Greek CBD Companies Reassess Products After September Guidance

Greek CBD companies are re-evaluating their products after the Ministry of Health published enforcement clarifications on September 15, 2026. The law that governs the sale of cannabinoid-based products was updated and came into effect in summer 2026.

The revised law includes a category for products containing exclusively CBD. That wording presents a challenge for natural extracts, which typically contain more than one cannabinoid. Full spectrum CBD oils include small amounts of THC and other compounds found in the plant. Broad-spectrum products generally have THC removed but may still contain cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, or CBN.

As a result, some products that Greek hemp businesses have sold for years may need to be withdrawn or reformulated. One organic hemp producer says its full spectrum extracts generally contain less than 0.2% THC, while even some broad spectrum extracts can retain measurable traces below 0.05%. The company says it may have to replace certain natural extracts with CBD isolate to meet the revised requirements.

The rules also call for stronger inspections and require retailers to certify that their products comply. One point remains unclear: how strictly authorities will apply the word “exclusively” to highly purified plant-derived CBD that contains minute traces of other cannabinoids. Products built around CBG and other minor cannabinoids may face similar uncertainty, even if they contain no measurable THC.

Michalis Theodoropoulos, founder and CEO of the hemp company, says the shift could weigh heavily on smaller producers: “small and medium-sized industrial hemp producers are losing the products in which they invested.” He argues that larger companies with more resources will be better placed to adapt their production and product lines. His assessment reflects an industry perspective; the eventual effect will depend on how the rules are enforced.

Greece previously used a broader definition covering products derived from qualifying Cannabis sativa varieties containing up to 0.3% THC, as well as products containing CBD. The July law replaced that approach with more specific product categories, and the September guidance gave businesses a clearer indication of how authorities intend to apply it.

The national changes come on top of European Union rules for cannabinoids sold in foods. Under the EU’s novel foods framework, those ingredients require authorization before they can be marketed as foods. Greek CBD companies must therefore navigate both the revised domestic product rules and the separate EU process as they decide what to keep on shelves.