Hong Kong no longer permits the sale and consumption of pet food and health products containing cannabidiol (CBD), following an absolute ban by its government since February 2023.
Businesses offering CBD products for pets have either exhausted their remaining stocks or closed down completely and plan to relocate their business operations into countries where CBD isn’t prohibited.
Hong Kong only allowed pharmaceutical products containing CBD into Hong Kong prior to this ban, and only strictly regulated their entry. Under Hong Kong’s new law, possessing, consuming, trafficking or manufacturing CBD-containing products in Hong Kong has become illegal; exceptions and licenses may be granted under certain circumstances, including medical professionals; anyone found with CBD on them could face imprisonment of at least seven years and fines up to HK$1 Million while traffickers and manufacturers could receive life imprisonment with fines reaching up to five million Hong Kong dollars!
Hong Kong’s legal framework regarding CBD centers on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound found in cannabis that has long been classified as an illegal substance. According to government policy, THC traces may still contaminate products labelled THC-free no matter their level of purification, and even CBD itself could naturally convert to THC over time. Furthermore, legislators believe the jury is still out on any health benefits claimed for it until authoritative scientific proof becomes available.
CBD in Hong Kong: Boom and bust
As soon as China banned CBD cosmetic products in 2021, companies forced out of business retreated to Hong Kong. When other forms of CBD vendors joined them and other types of vendors too. Asia’s first CBD cafe and retail store, Found, opened here to sell lifestyle products like balms and oils alongside regular coffee shop fare with a CBD flair; pet products to ease common pet ailments were also carried here; this store offered special “puppuchinos” with cannabidiol-flavored treats! With China’s new law now in effect however Found has since closed down but customers should follow its social media pages for updates!
Hong Kong government effectively cleared pet shops and online stores of CBD inventories almost overnight by classifying it as a dangerous drug, effectively ending sales to pet stores and online stores that stock it. A quick search of “CBD for pets” among various Hong Kong online pet shops now returns zero results while one store still sells CBD goods with the following disclaimer: “Please be aware that we no longer deliver CBD products within Hong Kong or Macau; only products with shipping destinations qualify.
Altum, which is based in Australia, appears to have had a CBD partnership with Wai Yuen Tong, a well-known provider of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Hong Kong that did not materialise after the ban was put in place. A pet treat supplement called Life X Wai Yuen Tong that appears on Altum’s website was meant to complement local dispensary products; however it never appeared there either.
Meanwhile, all suppliers and retailers of goods – particularly pet food companies – should take measures to ensure none of their Hong Kong-bound products contain any trace amounts of CBD. They should review product packaging labels for indications of CBD use.