ASTM D8499-23

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: D8499 − 23
Standard Guide for
Meeting the Specifications of ASTM D8432
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8499; 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
In the cannabis/hemp industry, fairness in the marketplace for cannabis/hemp products is desired.
Thus, standards for assuring safety, quality, and weight stabilization during key steps of the
cannabis/hemp flowers sojourn are in order. While there are numerous means of meeting or exceeding
the specifications of Specification D8432, additional guidance will provide purveyors who move the
cured crop from the packaging process via the supply chain to another licensed operator or to the end
user an assist in meeting or exceeding the specifications.
1. Scope 1.7 Authorities having jurisdiction may have additional or
alternate requirements which shall take precedence or super-
1.1 Specification D8432 covers the environmental
sede this standard.
conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and lighting under
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
which the cured, dry, cannabis/hemp flowers packaged in fresh
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
format and intended for human use can be maintained in transit
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
to assure the safety, quality, and weight stabilization of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
packaged flower. This guide suggests means by which the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
purveyor of transportation of cannabis/hemp can meet those
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
specifications.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1.1 This standard does not apply to frozen cannabis/hemp.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.1.2 This standard does not apply to cannabis/hemp in-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
tended for extraction.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 This standard applies to controlling the environment
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
surrounding packaged cannabis/hemp flower in transit, either
within the package itself or in the environment surrounding the
2. Referenced Documents
package, or both.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 This standard is to be followed by licensed operators in
D8196 Practice for Determination of Water Activity (a ) in
w
the cannabis/hemp space who move the packaged crop(s)
Cannabis Flower
through the distribution supply chain to another licensed
D8197 Specification for Maintaining Acceptable Water Ac-
operator or to the end user.
tivity (a ) Range (0.55 to 0.65) for Dry Cannabis Flower
w
1.4 Purveyors of cannabis/hemp flower include, but are not
Intended for Human/Animal Use
necessarily limited to: the packager, transportation companies,
D8233 Guide for Packaging and Labeling of Consumer
warehousing operations, and retail operations.
Resin Cannabis Products for Sale to Adult Consumers,
Legally Authorized Medical Users, and Caregivers in a
1.5 Security of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower while in
Business-to-Consumer Retail Environment (Retailers)
transit is not within the scope of this standard.
D8270 Terminology Relating to Cannabis
1.6 This standard is intended to remain valid until owner-
D8309 Guide for Stability Testing of Cannabis-Based Prod-
ship of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is transferred to
ucts
another licensed operator or to the final consumer.
1 2
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.04 on Processing and Handling. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published June 2023. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D8499-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8499 − 23
D8432 Specification for Environmental Conditions while In of the various categories of materials and the cannabis/hemp
Transit for Packaged Cannabis/Hemp Flower flower. In particular, these areas should be clean, dry (meeting
the standards of Specification D8432), have adequate air
3. Terminology
circulation, and be monitored/validated periodically.
3.1 Definitions—General definitions are in accordance with 6.1.1 For transport of samples intended for laboratory
Terminology D8270, unless otherwise indicated. analyses, appropriately sized containers, rather than entire
vehicles may be designed to meet the recommendations of this
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
standard. In particular, maintaining proper temperatures and
3.2.1 environmental conditions, n—the atmosphere immedi-
relative humidities surrounding the sample(s) and assuring
ately surrounding the cannabis/hemp flower, whether contained
against contamination or cross contamination of samples is
within the package in which the flower is contained, or in the
essential.
larger space surrounding the package containing the packaged
cannabis/hemp flower. 6.2 Vehicles used for transport should be clean, dry, and
capable of maintaining air quality. The design and operation
3.2.2 relative humidity, n—the relative humidity (RH) of an
should also prevent or limit the accumulation of heat, steam,
air-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure
condensation, or dust if the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is
of water vapor surrounding the cannabis/hemp flower (pH O)
not packaged in a container that has internal environmental
to the equilibrium vapor pressure (p*H O) over a flat surface of
control.
pure water at a given temperature.
6.2.1 As necessary, consider equipping transit vehicles with
RH = pH O / p*H O
2 2
close-fitting screens and/or filters to prevent the entry of dust,
smoke, steam, odors, and contaminated air.
4. Significance and Use
6.2.2 A transport vehicle should be designed, constructed,
4.1 Standards and practices for assuring safety, quality, and
and maintained in a manner that permits it to be kept clean and
weight stabilization during key steps of the cannabis/hemp
orderly, permits effective cleaning of all its surfaces, prevents
flowers’ sojourn are in order.
the contamination of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower and
4.2 This standard is intended to assure safety, quality, and
prevents the introduction of extraneous substances.
weight stabilization of packaged cannabis/hemp flower during
6.2.3 Regular maintenance and sanitation should be per-
transit operations.
formed within internal areas where cannabis is transported to
avoid product safety or contamination of concern to human
4.3 This standard is intended to be used by purveyors who
health.
move the packaged cured flower between licensed operators or
6.2.4 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be
to the end user.
accessible by employees and applicable contractors for key
4.4 This standard is intended to be used by samplers and
operational elements including: sanitation and inspection of the
testing laboratories transporting samples to a laboratory to
transportation vehicle and equipment used in transport; em-
assure that samples analyzed represent as accurately as
ployee hygiene; distribution, including transfer, and receipt of
possible, the material that was gathered to provide the sample
packaged cannabis/hemp, transportation of cannabis/hemp
for analysis.
flower; managing product on hold or destined for destruction.
5. Monitoring Equipment
6.3 In accordance with Specification D8432, records shall
be maintained to assure that the specifications of that standard
5.1 Temperature—Device or devices capable of measuring
are met. Records should also be kept of various systems design
temperature to assure specifications of Specification D8432 are
parameters and operating conditions used to meet the specifi-
met. Additionally, devices capable of measuring temperatures
cations or lead to necessary modifications to do so.
in a manner that advances systems optimization are suggested.
6.3.1 Distribution records should be maintained a
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