| United States | - Do not assume that hemp-derived CBD is automatically authorized for inhalation or retail sale. Federal, state, and local rules can differ.
- FDA has not approved CBD products as treatments for general therapeutic claims. Product classification and applicable requirements should be confirmed before marketing.
- Check whether nicotine is present; nicotine-containing electronic nicotine delivery products can trigger separate FDA requirements.
| - Maintain complete ingredient and batch records, including cannabinoid profile and contaminant testing.
- Review warnings, age restrictions, claims, and state-specific packaging rules for every sales destination.
- Do not make disease-treatment claims unless the product is legally authorized for those claims.
| - Confirm the product’s federal and state status before shipment; “hemp-derived” alone is not proof of import or sale eligibility.
- Have a customs broker review product description, ingredients, tariff classification, and any applicable agency requirements.
- Check destination-state restrictions and carrier rules before dispatch.
| - Recheck federal, state, and local rules before each market launch and after regulatory changes.
- Retain certificates of analysis (COAs), supplier records, complaint logs, and batch traceability.
- Monitor recalls, adverse-event reports, and changes to product claims or formulation.
| U.S. FDA: Cannabis and cannabis-derived products |
| United Kingdom | - Check controlled-drug rules for the full cannabinoid profile, including THC and other controlled cannabinoids; do not assume a low measured amount makes a vape exempt.
- Medicinal claims may bring a product within medicines regulation and require the appropriate authorization.
- Nicotine-specific e-cigarette rules are not a general authorization for nicotine-free CBD products.
| - Obtain a full ingredient list, cannabinoid specification, batch COA, and evidence supporting any “THC-free” or similar claim.
- Check product presentation, warnings, age controls, and advertising claims against the product’s actual legal classification.
- Assess whether the formulation or claims could classify the product as a medicine or controlled-drug preparation.
| - Confirm whether controlled-drug import licensing or other permissions are required before shipping.
- Check the rules for the specific UK jurisdiction and route of entry; do not rely solely on the supplier’s export clearance.
- Use a customs broker familiar with cannabinoid products and provide accurate product documentation.
| - Reassess controlled-substance status whenever the formula, test method, or supplier changes.
- Keep traceable batch testing and review labels, website copy, and promotional materials regularly.
- Confirm current import and sale requirements before replenishing stock.
| UK Government: Controlled-drug licences |
| European Union | - Check the rules in each destination Member State; CBD and cannabinoid product requirements are not uniform across the EU.
- The Tobacco Products Directive covers electronic cigarettes containing nicotine; it should not be treated as a general approval route for nicotine-free CBD vapes.
- Medicinal claims, controlled-substance rules, chemical safety requirements, and national product rules may apply depending on the product.
| - Prepare market-specific labels and instructions, with accurate ingredients, warnings, batch identification, and traceability information.
- Check whether chemical classification, hazard communication, or other product-safety duties apply to the formulation.
- Do not apply food or novel-food authorization as a substitute for assessing an inhaled product’s applicable rules.
| - Identify the importing Member State and confirm its national requirements before dispatch.
- Check customs documentation, product classification, and any national permits or restrictions.
- Confirm that the importer of record is prepared to meet local obligations.
| - Maintain a separate compliance file for each destination market.
- Review national rule changes, product composition, safety data, and label translations at regular intervals.
- Keep supplier qualification, batch COAs, complaint handling, and recall procedures current.
| European Commission: E-cigarettes |
| Canada | - CBD is regulated as cannabis under Canada’s federal cannabis framework, regardless of whether it is derived from hemp.
- Legal retail and product requirements depend on the authorized Canadian supply chain and applicable provincial or territorial rules.
- Do not treat ordinary consumer-goods import procedures as permission to import CBD vape products.
| - Verify that the product is eligible for the intended legal cannabis channel and meets applicable cannabis packaging and labelling rules.
- Check required health warnings, child-resistant packaging, ingredient disclosure, and product-specific restrictions.
- Keep licensed-supply-chain documents and product testing records available for inspection.
| - Importing or exporting cannabis generally requires the applicable federal authorization and is limited to permitted purposes.
- Do not ship commercial CBD vape inventory as a personal-use or ordinary parcel import.
- Confirm permits and border documentation with Health Canada and the customs broker before shipment.
| - Verify the licence status of every supply-chain partner and the permitted activity for each licence.
- Maintain batch traceability, testing, packaging review, complaint records, and recall readiness.
- Recheck provincial or territorial retail requirements before entering a new market.
| Health Canada: Importing and exporting cannabis |
| Australia | - CBD and vaping products are subject to Australian medicines and therapeutic-goods controls; do not assume that rules for oral CBD apply to inhaled products.
- Confirm the product’s classification and whether the proposed supply and import pathway is authorized before placing an order.
- State and territory controls may also affect possession, supply, and use.
| - Check the approved product category, permitted ingredients, intended-use claims, and applicable therapeutic-goods labelling.
- Obtain the full formulation, batch COA, manufacturing documentation, and evidence supporting all safety and quality claims.
- Ensure packaging and advertising match the product’s authorized status and supply pathway.
| - Confirm the applicable TGA import pathway and any required authorization before shipment.
- Check current restrictions on importing and supplying vaping goods; do not rely on a supplier’s statement that a parcel can be shipped.
- Ask a qualified Australian importer or customs broker to confirm documentation and border requirements.
| - Monitor TGA updates and state or territory rules, especially when product classification or supply arrangements change.
- Keep batch records, supplier qualification documents, complaints, and recall procedures current.
- Reconfirm authorization before each new product, shipment, or sales channel.
| Australian TGA: Vaping hub |
| All markets: supplier and batch controls | - Assess the finished vape product, not just the CBD ingredient or the supplier’s certificate.
- Require a clear statement of intended market, product classification, and legally permitted sales route.
- Reject unsupported compliance claims, incomplete formulas, and unexplained discrepancies between label and test data.
| - Match the label to the actual cannabinoid content, ingredients, batch number, and destination-market requirements.
- Review COAs for cannabinoids and relevant contaminants; verify the laboratory, method, sample identity, and batch match.
- Check device and liquid compatibility, packaging integrity, tamper evidence, and child-safety requirements where applicable.
| - Agree who is importer of record and who holds responsibility for local product compliance before purchase.
- Confirm customs descriptions and documents are accurate and consistent with the product.
- Do not ship until required permits, notifications, registrations, and buyer approvals are confirmed.
| - Recheck supplier licences, manufacturing controls, COAs, labels, and market rules for every new batch.
- Use written change control for any change in formula, source material, manufacturing site, packaging, or claims.
- Maintain complaint, adverse-event, withdrawal, and recall procedures with batch-level traceability.
| Minimum sourcing rule: Hold purchase or shipment until product classification, packaging, import route, and destination-market approval have been independently verified. |
