CBD Oil in Portugal: Is It Legal? (2026 Guide)

Last updated: October 2026.

The short answer

Portugal is one of the stricter EU countries for CBD food products. The food authority, DGAV, says hemp extracts containing cannabinoids, including CBD, cannot be placed on the market as food or food supplements. Hemp seed, hemp seed oil, hemp seed flour and hemp leaf infusions are allowed. Medical cannabis is available on prescription, regulated by Infarmed.

The rules in Portugal

• CBD foods, oils and supplements: DGAV says CBD and other cannabinoid extracts are unauthorised novel foods and cannot be sold as food or supplements.
• Allowed hemp foods: hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp seed flour and hemp leaf infusions, with no health claims.
• Flowers, leaves and synthetic cannabinoids: also treated as unauthorised novel foods.
• CBD cosmetics: generally sold under EU cosmetics rules without health claims.
• Medical cannabis: available on prescription under Law 33/2018 and Decree-Law 8/2019, regulated by Infarmed.

Why Portugal is strict on CBD foods

Portugal is known for decriminalising personal drug possession in 2001, which leads many visitors to assume CBD is freely sold there. Decriminalisation is about how the state treats people who use drugs; it does not change food safety law. For CBD, the deciding factor is the EU novel food rules, and the Portuguese food authority applies them strictly: if a cannabinoid extract has not been authorised as a novel food, it cannot be sold as food.

Medical cannabis in Portugal

Portugal created a legal framework for cannabis-based medicines in 2018 and 2019. Products must be authorised by Infarmed, the national medicines authority, and are prescribed by doctors and dispensed through pharmacies. This is entirely separate from the CBD products you see in shops.

How the EU rules fit in

Portugal applies EU food law, so its position on CBD sits inside the wider EU framework. Across the EU, CBD added to food, drinks or food supplements is treated as a “novel food”: something not widely eaten before May 1997, which needs authorisation before it can be sold as food. Applications from many companies are still being assessed, and each member state enforces the rules in its own way. That is why you see CBD oils openly on sale in some countries and removed from shelves in others.

CBD cosmetics follow a different set of rules, the EU Cosmetics Regulation. Cannabidiol is listed as a cosmetic ingredient, so creams, balms and lotions made with CBD from permitted parts of the hemp plant can be sold across the EU as long as they are safe, properly labelled and make no medical claims.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of more than 100 natural compounds, called cannabinoids, found in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, the compound in cannabis that causes a “high”, CBD is not intoxicating. People in Portugal and across Europe use CBD as part of their daily routine, most often as an oil taken under the tongue, as gummies or capsules, or as a cream massaged into the skin.

CBD works with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors involved in keeping the body in balance. Research into CBD is growing, but CBD is not a medicine and it should not be used to replace any treatment your doctor has prescribed.

CBD, THC and hemp seed oil: what is the difference?

• CBD comes from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant. It does not cause a high.
• THC is the intoxicating compound in cannabis. It is tightly controlled in almost every European country, which is why the THC content of a CBD product matters so much.
• Hemp seed oil is pressed from hemp seeds. It is a nutritious food oil, rich in omega fatty acids, but it contains little or no CBD. Some products labelled “hemp oil” are hemp seed oil, so always check the CBD content in mg.

When you read about CBD laws, the THC limit you see (for example 0.2% or 0.3%) usually refers to the hemp plants farmers are allowed to grow. The rules for finished products, such as an oil in a bottle, are often stricter and differ from country to country.

Types of CBD product and how they are treated in Portugal

Not all CBD products are treated the same way. In most European countries, including Portugal, the type of product decides which rules apply:

• CBD oils, gummies and capsules taken by mouth are covered by food law, and in the EU they count as novel foods.
• CBD creams, balms and lotions are cosmetics, covered by cosmetics law.
• CBD flower, hash and vapes are the most restricted. Many countries limit or ban them because they can contain THC and are smoked or vaped.
• Prescription cannabis medicines are a separate category, prescribed by doctors and supplied through pharmacies.

How to read a CBD lab report

A lab report, sometimes called a certificate of analysis, is the single best way to know what is in a CBD product. A good one should:

• Come from an independent laboratory, not the brand itself.
• Match the batch number on your bottle.
• Show the amount of CBD, so you can check it matches the label.
• Show the THC level, so you know the product is within the legal limit.
• Ideally include tests for heavy metals and pesticides.

If a seller cannot show you a lab report for the batch you are buying, choose a different product. Every Dr. Hemp Me product has its lab report on the product page.

How to choose a CBD oil

CBD oils are sold by strength, shown as a percentage or as the total mg of CBD in the bottle. In a standard 10ml bottle with about 200 drops:

Most people start with a lower strength and adjust slowly. Our CBD dosing guide explains how to find the right amount, and you can compare all our strengths on our CBD oil page.

How to take CBD oil

• Shake the bottle, then place the drops under your tongue.
• Hold them there for 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing.
• Take it at the same time each day, and follow the amounts on the label.
• Start low and increase slowly over one to two weeks.

You can also add drops to food or a drink, although CBD swallowed this way takes longer to be noticed. Read how long CBD oil effects last for more on timing.

Who should be careful with CBD?

CBD is well tolerated by most healthy adults, but speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• Take regular medication, especially blood thinners, epilepsy medicines, antidepressants or sedatives. CBD can affect how some medicines are processed. See does CBD oil affect blood clotting?
• Have a liver condition.
• Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Are under 18.

Possible side effects include tiredness, a dry mouth and an upset stomach, usually at higher amounts. Never drive if you feel drowsy, and avoid mixing CBD with alcohol (see CBD and alcohol).

Travelling with CBD: general tips

• Check the current rules in Portugal and any country you pass through before you travel.
• Carry products in their original, labelled packaging, with the lab report if you can.
• Only take products that are THC-free or clearly within the legal limit. Never carry anything containing THC across a border.
• Keep oils in your hand luggage within liquid limits, and declare them if asked.
• If in doubt, leave it at home and buy locally where it is legal.

Buying CBD online for Portugal

Dr. Hemp Me is an Irish CBD company, based in Dublin since 2018, with over 15,000 customers and 900+ Trustpilot reviews. Every product is independently lab tested and the reports are on each product page. Because of Portugal’s rules on CBD foods, check the local position before ordering any CBD product for use there.

Frequently asked questions

Is CBD oil legal in Portugal?

CBD oils sold as food or supplements are not allowed, according to the food authority DGAV. Hemp seed products are allowed, and medical cannabis is available on prescription.

Can I buy CBD in Portuguese shops?

You may see CBD products for sale, but DGAV says CBD foods and supplements cannot legally be placed on the market. Products sold as cosmetics follow different rules.

Is hemp seed oil legal in Portugal?

Yes. Hemp seed oil, hemp seeds, hemp seed flour and hemp leaf infusions are allowed foods.

Is CBD cream legal in Portugal?

CBD cosmetics are generally sold under EU cosmetics rules, as long as they are safe, properly labelled and make no health claims.

Does decriminalisation mean CBD is legal in Portugal?

No. Decriminalisation concerns personal drug possession. CBD foods are governed by food law, where they are treated as unauthorised novel foods.

Is medical cannabis legal in Portugal?

Yes, on prescription, under a framework regulated by Infarmed since 2018 to 2019.

Can I travel to Portugal with CBD oil?

We found no clear official guidance. Given Portugal’s strict position on CBD foods, we would not recommend travelling with CBD oil, and never with anything containing THC.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; check the official guidance before you buy or travel. CBD is not a medicine and we make no health claims.

Sources

• DGAV leaflet on cannabis in food (Feb 2024)
• Infarmed: medical cannabis