Manufacturing restrictions are threatening to stop the import of life-saving prescribed cannabis oil needed for a girl with severe epilepsy.

Supplies for Teagan Appleby, 12, of Aylesham, are expected to stop in January and without it she could end up in an intensive care unit, her mother Emma warns.

Mrs Appleby said: "This puts my little girl's life at risk.

"If we cannot get her medication, the bottom line is she will end up in hospital and won't come out.

"She has the right to a happy life just like everyone else."

The British Government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has removed a licence for the importation of Celixir20 from Israel.

This is a whole plant cannabis product which, is prescribed to children with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

"This oil keeps her alive..."

The MHRA said the product, which is imported from Israeli company Bol Pharma, did not meet EU Good Manufacturing Practices standards.

This is despite the product being Israeli GMP. The regulations apply to the UK as well as continental Europe.

The stoppage was meant to happen this month but the MHRA agreed to a six-month extension to allow more time to find a permanent solution.

Emma Appleby, whose daughter is diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut syndrome said: “We found out that Teagan's medication was no longer in stock and they are going to stop supply to the UK.

" Teagan relies heavily on medication, this oil keeps her alive. With no supply she will likely be back in ICU and this time not come out.”

The law changed on November 21 last year, allowing clinicians on a specialist register to prescribe unlicensed medical cannabis products on the NHS and in private practice.

To date there are 90 private prescriptions for children with epilepsy via private clinics. Many are paying up to £2,000 per month for medicines.

Many of these patients remain out of hospital and have much improved quality of life and better seizure control.

Teagan also has to use the medicinal cannabis oil Bedrolite from the Netherlands and the supplies for that continue but she also needs Celixir20.

Teagan suffers from a rare genetic condition called Idic15 and epilepsy can come as part of this.

Previously it led to up to as many as 300 seizures a day of varying severity.

The use of cannabis-derived medication has brought that down to less than 10 a day.

The breakthrough to use this was when the law was changed to allow it from November 1 2018 following an announcement from the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

Teagan's family have to find around £2,000 a month for her medication so fundraising for her continues as money is not available on the NHS.

A fun day is being held for her in Aylesham on Sunday, August 21, from 11am to 4pm.

It is at the Ratling Social Club in Ratling Road and will include a bouncy castle, raffle, music, barbecue, stalls and games.

Dr Laura Squire, MHRA chief healthcare, quality and access officer said: “We recognise the importance of these cannabis oil products for children with severe forms of epilepsy.

" That is why we are enabling continued patient access to them by accepting applications to import. No parent should have cause for concern about ongoing supplies.”