International CBD Shipping: Ultimate Guide

As CBD grows in popularity, so does the CBD industry. It’s not likely to slow down soon – quite the opposite. The industry is expected to grow at least 103 percent through 2023 and accumulate $23.7 billion in sales.Many manufacturers and distributors are looking into domestic and international shipping to expand the customer base and increase revenue. Shipping CBD isn’t like shipping other products, however. It’s subject to strict regulations, both domestically and internationally.Compliance is important not only for your business, but for the future of the industry. At OilWell CBD, we take our commitment to our product seriously and help entrepreneurs from all over the country navigate the legal cannabis industry.Check out this ultimate guide to shipping CBD internationally to ensure you’re compliant.

Is CBD Legal to Ship?

Yes, CBD is legal to ship, but it’s closely monitored and regulated, despite being legalized and more accepted than more traditionally recognized products. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Potency of the CBD and THC: Generally, CBD products must have THC levels at 0.3 percent or less to ship, and you’ll need to verify the content in writing.
Origin of the Plant: CBD products typically have CBD that was extracted from hemp plants, which are protected by the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. If the CBD comes from synthetic sources, the THC level still has to be at 0.3 percent or less. Keep in mind that your supplier factors into the source and concentration of THC, so you need to conduct strict quality control to make sure it’s compliant.
Licensing: CBD products must come from licensed growers, even if the hemp is grown as a hobby. Both you and your supplier can hit legal walls and risk problems if you’re selling products from unlicensed sources.
Testing Requirements: CBD products need to be verified by third-party testing to show the chemical makeup and THC content. Some countries may require verification from a third-party testing organization as well.

Shipping CBD Internationally: Regulations

Though shipping CBD internationally is legal, there are plenty of rules and regulations to follow, both in general and specific to the destination country.Shipping CBD internationally depends on the destination country. Even in countries where it’s legal, you may encounter strict regulations. Overall, shipping CBD products outside of the U.S. is legal if the product contains less than 0.2 percent THC content, which is 0.1 percent lower than the legal threshold allowed in the country.This 0.2 percent rule doesn’t apply everywhere, however. Malaysia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates banned CBD products in all forms, while Australia allows CBD products described by a physician.Because of this, it’s vital to research the shipping rules and regulations for the destination country to ensure you’re compliant. You can find a lot of information from the USPS individual country listings, which detail not only CBD regulations, but all restrictions for shipping to the destination country.

To ship internationally, CBD must:

Contain less than 0.2 percent THC
Derive from the hemp plant
Check the guidelines for individual country listings with the shipping service for compliance.

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Countries with a CBD Ban

As mentioned, several countries have a ban on CBD products, regardless of THC content or the source.

These include:

United Arab Emirates
Russia
Malaysia

Countries that Currently Allow CBD Products

Many countries allow CBD products, but they may have strict requirements for the products, THC content, and other details. CBD laws are constantly changing, so it’s important to research the destination country to make sure shipping CBD products is legal.Australia is a good example of how the rules can change. At one point, Australia didn’t allow CBD product imports without a license or permit. Now, CBD products can be imported as long as they:

Contain less than 0.005 percent (50 mg) THC
Contain less than 0.0075 percent (75 mg) CBD content
Derive from the hemp plant

As you can see, countries can be very specific in the rules and regulations regarding CBD product imports. Don’t assume that something that was once acceptable still is, or that one country’s rules apply to another in the same region.

Here are just some of the countries that currently allow CBD products we ship to:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belize
Belgium
Bulgaria
Chile
Canada
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Croatia
Czech republic
Estonia
France
Finland
Denmark
Germany
Georgia
Greece
Guatemala
Guam
Hungary
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Italy
Ireland
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Peru
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Republic of Slovenia
Romania
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Uruguay
United Kingdom
U.S. Virgin Islands

Carriers that Ship CBD Products

CBD products are legal to mail within the US. USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx ship CBD products domestically and internationally.

Each has its own guidelines, however. For USPS, you must have:

Products with less than 0.3 percent THC
Compounds that derive from the hemp plant
A license from the Department of Agriculture that identifies the product as a registered industrial hemp producer and states that your business has authorization to market products with CBD
Disclosure of the Delta-9 THC concentration

For private couriers, such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL, you can ship domestically and internationally according to federal regulations.

You must have:

A product with less than 0.3 percent THC
A product derived from the hemp plant

Keep in mind that if your supplier fails to comply, it can impact whether you can ship CBD domestically or internationally. To avoid this, conduct testing of your CBD product to monitor the consistency and quality.

Considerations for International Shipping of CBD Products

As you can see, shipping CBD products requires a little legwork, but it’s legal overall. Shipping internationally requires some diligence, however. Many countries outside of the US classify cannabis derivatives as illegal contraband. If you ship to those countries, you may have your products destroyed or face federal charges. Make sure you understand the current regulations in your destination country and the legality of your business shipping CBD products. Ideally, you should get some experience shipping domestically before you open yourself to international shipping. Consult with an attorney or a legal team to cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Your lawyer can check the requirements, regulations, and compliance for shipping your CBD products to ensure you’re working within the applicable laws. Finally, account for your suppliers. If you don’t have your own farm or manufacturing facility and you work with a supplier, it’s up to you to make sure they’re following the law. If they’re not, it can still fall back on you. Verify the licensing of your suppliers, the concentration of the THC, and other details to make sure your supplier isn’t violating the law or shipping regulations. At OilWell CBD, we take our commitment to quality and compliance seriously, and that dedication extends to our wholesale and private-label customers. We not only offer 100-percent hemp-derived, compliant CBD products, but we ensure compliance from our suppliers.

Learn More About Wholesale and Private-Label CBD Products from OilWell!

How to Package and Ship CBD Oil

Once you’ve verified the regulations on shipping CBD to your destination country and what’s required of you, it takes some prep work to get your package ready to go.

Get your documentation in order – you should have documentation that shows your products are compliant with the regulations of the origin and destination countries. This may include third-party lab results to verify THC content, business verification, and more. Make sure your label clearly shows the information you need.
Prepare the products for shipment – if you’re shipping fragile products, it’s important to protect the package with bubble wrap, tape, foam, and other packing materials. This helps your product stay intact throughout its shipping journey to ensure your customer receives a quality, usable product.
Drop the package off or schedule a pickup – USPS offers drop-off and scheduled pickup at most locations. Don’t just drop your product in the mail! Visiting the post office allows a postal employee to check over your package to make sure everything is in order, which can save you valuable time and hassle. If you’re shipping using a private carrier, you may be able to schedule pickup or drop off at a nearby location.

Tips for International CBD Shipping

Whether you’re shipping CBD to the next state over or on the other side of the world, the packaging is the most important concern after compliance. No matter what your product is, it’s essential that it’s well packaged in something leakproof, like a Ziploc bag. For liquid products, you may want to double up on bags, especially if you’re shipping multiple types of products together. After the bag is sealed, wrap the product in bubble wrap to keep it safe. You’ll also want to add bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or foam pads to the packaging for added protection. Finish the packaging with secure packing tape to prevent it from accidentally opening during transfers and customs checks. It’s important to consider the climate in the origin, transition, and destination countries and regions. Some products can melt in high temperatures, such as candies, which will effectively ruin the product for your customers. The same is true of low temperatures, which can degrade your product.