ASTM D8423-22

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:D8423 −22
Standard Specification for
Environmental Conditions for Post-packaged Storage and
Retail Merchandising of Cannabis/Hemp Flower
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8423; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The cannabis/hemp industry, from seed to consumption, is undergoing a transition and moderniza-
tion. Thus, standards for ensuring safety, quality, and weight stabilization during key steps of the
cannabis/hemp flowers sojourn are in order. This specification is needed to ensure safety, quality, and
weight stabilization of cannabis/hemp flower and will be used by purveyors who may store the
packaged, cured crop along the supply chain from packaging to another licensed operator or the end
user.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.1 This standard specifies the environmental conditions,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
such as temperature, humidity, and lighting under which
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
cannabis/hemp flowers in fresh format intended for human use
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
are packaged to be stored to ensure the safety, quality, and
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
weight stabilization of the packaged flower.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1.1 This specification does not apply to frozen cannabis/
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
hemp.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1.2 This specification does not apply to cannabis/hemp
intended for extraction.
2. Terminology
1.2 Thisspecificationappliestocontrollingtheenvironment
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
surrounding packaged cannabis/hemp flower.
2.1.1 environmental conditions, n—the atmosphere immedi-
1.3 This specification is to be followed by licensed opera-
atelysurroundingthecannabis/hempflower,whethercontained
tors in the cannabis/hemp space who move the packaged within the package in which the flower is contained, or in the
crop(s) through the distribution supply chain to another li-
larger space surrounding the package containing the flower.
censed operator or to the end user.
2.1.2 mean kinetic temperature, n—a simplified way of
1.4 Purveyors of cannabis/hemp flower include, but are not expressing the overall effect of temperature fluctuations during
storage or transit of perishable goods.
necessarily limited to: the packager, transportation companies,
warehousing operations, and retail operations. 2.1.2.1 Discussion—The MKT is widely used in the phar-
maceutical industry. The mean kinetic temperature can be
1.5 Security of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower while in
expressed as :
storage is not within the scope of this specification.
~∆H/RT ! ~∆H/RT ! ~∆H/RT !
1 2 n
T 5 ∆H/R/-ln@t e 1 t e 1 … 1 t e ⁄t 1 t
K 1 2 n 1 2
1.6 This specification is intended to remain valid until
1 … 1 t # (1)
ownership of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is transferred n
to another licensed operator or to the final consumer.
where:
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
T = the mean kinetic temperature in degrees Kelvin,
K
–1
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
∆H = the activation energy (in kJ mol ),
-1 –1
R = the gas constant (in J mol K ),
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on
CannabisandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD37.04onProcessingand
Handling. USP-NF, Mean Kinetic Temperature in the Evaluation of Temperature Excur-
Current edition approved June 15, 2022. Published August 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ sions During Storage and Transportation of Drug Products, <1079.2>, 2020. DOI:
D8423-22 https://doi.org/10.31003/USPNF_M13855_02_01.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8423−22
containers, with hermetically sealed packaging and/or with
T to T = the temperatures at each of the sample points in
1 n
devices within the package into which the cannabis/hemp is
degrees Kelvins, and
packaged.
t to t = time intervals at each of the sample points.
1 n
2.1.3 relative humidity, n—the relative humidity (RH) of an 6.2 The temperature of the environment immediately sur-
rounding the packaged cannabis/hemp flower shall not exceed
air-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure
of water vapor (pH O) in the mixture to the equilibrium vapor 30 °C for more than 2 h.
6.2.1 The minimum temperature of the atmosphere imme-
pressure of water (p·H O) over a flat surface of pure water at
a given temperature. diately surrounding the packaged cannabis/hemp flower shall
not be less than 1 °C to ensure against freezing.
RH=pH O⁄p·H O (2)
2 2
6.2.2 The total elapsed time from packaging to the final
3. Significance and Use
consumer (including non-transit storage time and transit time)
...