CBD itself is not a controlled substance in Portugal, but the rules for CBD products are strict. As of October 2026, cannabidiol does not appear in any of the tables of Portugal's drugs law, Decree-Law 15/93. The same tables do list cannabis leaves and flowering tops, cannabis resin, cannabis oil and THC. Industrial hemp may be grown from EU varieties with no more than 0.3% THC, but its flowers may not leave the farm. CBD may not be sold as food, as a food supplement or as animal feed. CBD cosmetics fall under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, supervised in Portugal by INFARMED. Formula Swiss CBD oils are notified as cosmetics in the EU, with THC under 0.2% or THC-free.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Is CBD a controlled substance?
- No. CBD is not listed in the tables of Decree-Law 15/93
- What is controlled
- Cannabis leaves and flowering tops, resin and cannabis oil (Table I-C), and THC (Table II-B)
- Hemp growing
- Licensed by DGAV; EU-catalogued varieties with no more than 0.3% THC; flowering tops may not leave the farm
- CBD cosmetics
- Covered by the EU Cosmetics Regulation; INFARMED is the cosmetics authority
- CBD in food and feed
- Not allowed: CBD extracts are unauthorised novel foods (DGAV)
- Medical cannabis
- Legal since 2018 for authorised preparations, on prescription, from pharmacies
- Our oils
- Notified as cosmetics (CPNP), full spectrum under 0.2% THC or THC-free
What Portuguese drugs law says
Portugal's drugs law is Decree-Law 15/93. Its tables list the substances that are controlled. For cannabis, two tables matter:
- Table I-C lists cannabis leaves and flowering or fruiting tops from which the resin has not been extracted, cannabis resin, cannabis oil (crude or purified), and seeds not intended for sowing.
- Table II-B lists the forms of THC, including delta-9-THC, and all preparations in which they are combined with other compounds.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is not listed in any of the tables. The tables were last extended in 2025 and 2026 to add new psychoactive substances, including HHC, but neither change concerns CBD.
The tables do not set a THC threshold for finished products. Portugal has not published an official statement on how products with trace amounts of THC are treated, so this remains a grey area. If you want no THC at all, choose a THC-free product.
Growing hemp in Portugal
Industrial hemp needs a licence from DGAV, the Portuguese food and veterinary authority. The rules are in Ordinance 83/2021, as amended:
- only varieties in the EU Common Catalogue with no more than 0.3% THC may be grown (Ordinance 64/2023, in line with EU rules);
- the crop must be sown outdoors, on at least 0.5 hectares, with no greenhouses and no transplanting (Ordinance 14/2022);
- industrial purposes mean fibre and seeds, including for food and feed;
- the flowering tops may not be transported off the farm.
In practice, this means hemp grown under an industrial licence in Portugal cannot supply flowers for CBD extraction.
Which rules apply to which CBD product?
| Product type | Main rules | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetics (oils for the skin, balms, creams) | EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 | Safety assessment, product information file and notification in the CPNP before sale; supervised by INFARMED |
| Food and food supplements | EU Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 | Not allowed: DGAV states that extracts containing CBD may not be sold as food or food supplements |
| Animal feed | EU feed rules | Not allowed: DGAV states that CBD may not be used in animal feed |
| Medical cannabis | Law 33/2018 and Decree-Law 8/2019 | Needs a marketing authorisation from INFARMED; prescription only |
| Hemp seeds and seed oil | Ordinary food law | Allowed as food (seeds, seed oil, seed flour) |
CBD as food or a food supplement
DGAV's guidance on cannabis as food says that hemp flowers, leaves and extracts from any part of the plant are unauthorised novel foods. It states that extracts containing cannabinoids, in particular CBD, may not be placed on the market as food or food supplements. Only hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp seed flour and partly defatted seeds are allowed. A separate DGAV note from February 2024 says CBD may not be used in animal feed. Read more in our article on CBD as a novel food in the EU.
Medical cannabis in Portugal
Law 33/2018 created the legal framework for medicines, preparations and substances based on cannabis. Under Decree-Law 8/2019, cannabis preparations for medical use need a marketing authorisation from INFARMED, are prescribed by a doctor and are dispensed in pharmacies. INFARMED reports 16 such authorisations in total by mid-2026.
Personal use and the 2023 change
Since 2001, buying or possessing drugs for personal use, up to ten days' supply, has been an administrative offence in Portugal rather than a crime (Law 30/2000). Cases go to a regional dissuasion commission. Law 55/2023 changed this so that a larger amount is only an indication that the drugs are not for personal use. Growing cannabis for personal use is still a crime.
CBD and driving in Portugal
Article 81 of the Highway Code forbids driving under the influence of psychotropic substances. There is no numeric limit for THC; the influence is established by a medical or forensic report, and the fine is €500 to €2,500. CBD is not what drug tests look for; they detect THC. Full-spectrum hemp products contain small amounts of THC, so read our guide to CBD, drug tests and driving.
From our production
We make our CBD oils ourselves in Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland, where they are formulated, bottled and labelled. Every oil is notified as a cosmetic in the EU's CPNP portal and has its own product information file. Our full-spectrum oils contain less than 0.2% THC, and our broad-spectrum oils are THC-free. Every production batch is tested, and the THC content is printed on each label to two decimal places.
Frequently asked questions
Is CBD legal in Portugal?
CBD is not listed as a controlled substance in Portuguese drugs law. CBD products must meet the rules for their category: cosmetics follow the EU Cosmetics Regulation, and CBD may not be sold as food, a food supplement or animal feed.
Is cannabis oil controlled in Portugal?
Yes. Table I-C of Decree-Law 15/93 lists cannabis oil, cannabis resin and cannabis leaves and flowering tops, and Table II-B lists THC. CBD is not listed.
What is the THC limit for hemp in Portugal?
Industrial hemp must come from EU-catalogued varieties with no more than 0.3% THC, grown under a DGAV licence. The flowering tops may not leave the farm.
Can I buy CBD as a food supplement in Portugal?
No. DGAV states that extracts containing CBD are unauthorised novel foods and may not be sold as food or food supplements.
Is medical cannabis legal in Portugal?
Yes. Since 2018, cannabis preparations authorised by INFARMED can be prescribed by a doctor and dispensed in pharmacies.
Can I drive after using CBD in Portugal?
Driving under the influence of psychotropic substances is an offence, with a fine of €500 to €2,500. Tests look for THC, not CBD, but full-spectrum products contain small amounts of THC, so a THC-free product is the safer choice if you drive.
Related guides
This article is general information about the law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice, and laws and their interpretation can change. Check the current rules with the Portuguese authorities before you buy, travel or sell. Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Decreto-Lei n.º 15/93, de 22 de janeiro, and its tables (consolidated). PGD Lisboa.
- Portaria n.º 83/2021, de 15 de abril. Diário da República.
- Portaria n.º 14/2022, de 5 de janeiro. DGAV.
- Portaria n.º 64/2023, de 3 de março. DGAV.
- DGAV. A Canábis como Alimento (2023).
- DGAV. Esclarecimento técnico 1/DGAV/2024, 5 February 2024.
- Decreto-Lei n.º 8/2019, de 15 de janeiro. Diário da República.
- INFARMED. Canábis medicinal.
- INFARMED. Produtos cosméticos.
- Código da Estrada, art. 81 (consolidated). PGD Lisboa.
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. EUR-Lex.
- Formula Swiss. Registered, compliant and legal products.
