For years now, Portugal has been one of the number one places for british holidaymakers. And with cbd becoming such an essential part of daily life for so many regular users, the prospect of combining a relaxed environment with a thriving cbd retail sector presents a very attractive option.
Leaving the United Kingdom: the actual law
When it comes to traveling from the u.k. With CBD Oil, everything is perfectly fine — provided you follow the proper guidelines. All of the major airlines operating from the u.k., including easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2 and British Airways have made provision for passengers carrying cbd products on their flights, provided they are carried in accordance with the standard UK liquid allowances.
Under UK law, the following conditions must be met by any cbd product being transported in hand baggage:
- The entire contents of each container must contain no more than 1mg of THC (not per serving — total),
- The product cannot be marketed as a medicine;
- The product must be contained in the manufacturer’s original packaging (i.e. The product cannot be decanted into smaller containers prior to travel);
- All cbd liquids must be stored in containers that are no larger than 100ml, and they must be placed in a transparent plastic bag;
While a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an independent laboratory is not strictly necessary, having one could prove useful when questioned about your product by airport staff. In particular, if questioned by an airport officer about a product that may appear suspicious, displaying a COA confirming that the product contains low levels of THC will provide a quick means of resolving the issue.
Returning to Portugal: when things get complicated
Here is where many travelers incorrectly believe that they can transport cbd products to Portugal without problem. As a result of Portugal’s reputation for being ‘progressive’ when it comes to cannabis laws — especially regarding the sale and possession of cbd products — travelers assume that cbd products can be easily brought into Portugal.
While it is true that Portugal allows the sale and consumption of cbd products that contain up to 0.2 percent THC, the legal status of bringing cbd products into Portugal from another country is different altogether.
According to the US state department’s travel advisory for Portugal, transporting cbd products and derivatives into Portugal is prohibited and carries penalties of between €1,000 and €10,000. Multiple Legal resources support that cbd food products and ingestible supplements face additional restrictions under EU Novel Food regulations that many imported products violate.
For travelers:
| Product category | Sold in Portugal? | Bringing from UK? | Risk level |
| Cosmetic/cbd topical (< 0.2%THC) | Yes, widely | Technically restricted | Low-moderate |
| Food/supplemental CBD Oil (< 0.2% THC) | Grey area (eu novels foods) | Technically restricted | Moderate-high |
| zero-THC cbd isolate products | Widely available | Technically restricted | Low-risk |
| Any full-spectrum cbd product containing measurable amounts of THC | Prescription required only | Prohibited | |
| Edible/gummy cbd products | Restrictive (eu novels foods) | Not recommended | High-risk |
Recommendation based on common sense
We recommend that most travelers adopt a straightforward formula:
- Buy your cbd in Portugal. There is a large, developed market for hemp-based cbd products in Lisbon (and beyond). Hemp shops along Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Principe Real sell cbd oils, tinctures, and topical creams from reputable Portuguese/eu companies whose products are compliant with local regulatory requirements. By buying locally you avoid completely any potential issue related to importing your product.
If you prefer to travel with cbd from the UK, then to minimize risk:
- Use either pure isolate or broad spectrum (zero THC) oil in its original packaging used during retail sales in the u.k.;
- Ensure that all packaging is clearly labeled as a food supplement;
- Pack enough product only to last you for your trip (in order to stay below 100 ml);
- Keep documentation from your supplier — specifically a COA — either on your mobile device or in your carry-on bag;
- Avoid bringing edible cbd products into Portugal. Due to novel food classifications across the eu, edible cbd products pose a significant amount of uncertainty with respect to their legality when crossing borders. Customs enforcement on food products within Portugal appears to be significantly less reliable than for other categories of cbd products (oils & topicals).
The question of flying with CBD is one where the law and common practice diverge more than most guides will tell you. The UK end is clear. The Portugal end is not. The practical solution — buy locally, travel light — is also the one that lets you spend your time in Lisbon thinking about something more interesting than customs compliance. Browse the full catalogue of cannabis products at Properloud before you go, find what works for you.
