The Consumer Brands Association (CBA), an advocacy group dedicated to consumer protection, has created an advisory board to direct its approach toward oversight of the CBD market. Members of the advisory board will include former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett; former Boston Police Department Commissioner Edward Davis; Tom Galvin, executive director of the Digital Citizens Alliance; Karen Tandy, former administrator at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and Michael Taylor, former deputy commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“The individuals that we have assembled have decades of experience in tackling issues like the one we face today—the smart regulation of CBD,” CBA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Freeman said in a press release. “Each of the advisory board members brings a unique perspective that will be crucial in helping inform and guide the [consumer packaged goods] industry’s advocacy approach on this rapidly evolving issue.”
According to a recent CBA survey, 92 percent of Americans are unaware of federal CBD regulations, or the lack thereof. CBA said its goal is to help provide concise and reliable information for consumers when it comes to the efficacy of CBD products. The organization also called for increased funding for scientific research into CBD and additional resources for the FDA’s enforcement and regulation of CBD in consumer products.
“Consumers need confidence in the authenticity and safety of the products they use,” Tom Galvin, one of the board’s members said. “CBD is an emerging focus for us, and we believe it should be for regulators and policymakers too. Consumers deserve to know that the CBD products they are purchasing can be trusted. The stakes are too high.”
Both consumers and members of the CBD industry are still waiting on a clear set of regulations to be issued by federal agencies. In the meantime, local government bodies may have to pick up the slack to ensure consumers are ingesting safe products.
“States really need the federal government to step up and take the lead on CBD,” former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said. “When it comes to public safety and consumer confidence we need higher standards and more robust regulations.”
First known as the American Specialty Manufactures Association before becoming the Grocery Marketers Association in 2007, the Consumer Brands Association has operated on behalf of American consumers since its initial founding in 1908. The group most recently rebranded in 2019 after facing criticism for its controversial stance on some consumer issues. CBA focuses on the safety and regulation of packaged consumer products.
