ASTM D8233-19

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: D8233 − 19
Standard Guide for
Packaging and Labeling of Consumer Resin Cannabis
Products for Sale to Adult Consumers, Legally Authorized
Medical Users, and Caregivers in a Business-to-Consumer
Retail Environment (Retailers)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8233; 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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This guide is for the packaging and labeling of cannabis
2.1 ASTM Standards:
flowers, resins, and preparations derived therefrom for sale to
D3475 Classification of Child-Resistant Packages
adult consumers, legally authorized medical users, and care-
F2097 Guide for Design and Evaluation of Primary Flexible
givers in a business-to-consumer/patient/caregiver retail envi-
Packaging for Medical Products
ronment and other legal distribution channels. This includes
labeling of products, regardless of packaging format, that will
3. Terminology
be purchased by adults in retail dispensaries, pharmacies, or
3.1 Definitions:
other distribution methods (for example, postal shipment).
3.1.1 child-resistant/senior-friendly packaging, n—special
1.2 This guide does not address packaging or labeling
packaging that is significantly difficult for children under five
specific to non-consumer-facing transactions (for example,
years of age to open, yet not difficult for seniors (65 years of
products packaged for transfer between business entities,
age and older) to use properly. See Classification D3475.
includinggrowers,processors,manufacturers,wholesalers,and
3.1.2 container/immediate container, n—sealed, hard, or
retailers).
soft-bodied receptacle in which a cannabis item is placed.
1.3 This guide incorporates relevant materials previously
3.1.3 exit package, n—opaque bag or other similar opaque
published in other industry resources such as ASTM Commit-
covering provided at the point of sale.
tees D10 and F02, Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards
3.1.4 local jurisdiction/authorities having jurisdiction,
(FOCUS), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA),
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and n—the area for which the regulation(s) apply, such as federal,
state/province, county, or local municipality.
various sanctioned working group findings and publications
(for example, Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation
3.1.5 opaque, n—packaging does not allow the product to
(CRCR), National Cannabis IndustryAssociation (NCIA), and
be seen without opening the packaging material.
so forth).
3.1.5.1 semi-opaque, n—packaging that may allow light but
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
not detailed images to pass through; syn. semi-transparent;
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
translucent.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.6 resealable, n—immediate container maintains its
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
child-resistant effectiveness for multiple openings.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.7 resin cannabis products, n—any product containing or
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
comprised of cannabis flowers and/or resins and includes, but
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
is not limited to, the cannabis flowers and resins themselves,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
extracts/concentrates/derivatives thereof, and preparations
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
therefrom.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1 2
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM 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 Feb. 1, 2019. Published February 2019. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D8233-19. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8233 − 19
3.1.8 secondary packaging, n—packaging in addition to the 5.1.4 If the consumer resin cannabis product’s immediate
immediate container, if applicable, that is the outermost layer container is child-resistant, then neither the secondary con-
visible to the consumer at the point of sale.
tainer nor the exit bag need be child-resistant.
5.1.5 If the consumer resin cannabis product’s immediate
3.1.9 shipping container, n—sealed, hard or soft-bodied
container used to transport multiple consumer packages. container is not required to be child-resistant as specified in
5.2, or if there is not yet an approved child-resistant container
3.1.9.1 security shipping container, n—lockable, hard-sided
available in the marketplace for the approved product form,
container with a lid or other enclosure that can be secured in
then the container should be placed in an opaque, child-
place for purposes of transporting cannabis products to and
resistant exit bag at the point of sale, prior to transfer to a
from licensed cannabis businesses, including but not limited to
consumer/patient/licensed caregiver, if applicable.
wholesaler, cultivator, processor, manufacturer, retailer, and
research/testing facilities. 5.1.6 Variable weight consumer resin cannabis products
should be placed in an opaque child-resistant container or exit
3.1.10 tamper evident, n—a seal or closure of a package
package at the point of sale, prior to transfer to a consumer/
designed to reveal any prior interference with the contents.
patient/designated caregiver.
3.1.11 universal symbol, n—a graphic representation, as
5.1.7 Consumer resin cannabis product containers housing
defined by the local jurisdiction, indicating a warning of
multiple servings of active THC product must maintain its
potentially harmful substances and/or effects of improper use.
child-resistant effectiveness for multiple openings consistent
3.1.12 variable weight consumer resin cannabis products,
with, at minimum, the number of servings in the container.
n—product which is apportioned at the point of sale by the
5.1.8 Authorities having jurisdiction may, with required
retail operator and priced based on the weight measure
documentation provided by a licensed caregiver, make excep-
(typically using the kilogram (kg) as the proper SI unit).
tions to child-resistant packaging requirements for elderly
and/or handicapped persons.
4. Significance and Use
5.1.9 Consumer resin cannabis packaging manufacturers
4.1 This guide provides manufacturers, wholesalers, and
should certify and maintain proper documentation (for
retailers with guidance on how to package and label consumer
example, a General Certificate of Conformity) for each form of
resin cannabis products, based on their intended use, in a
packaging containing resin cannabis products. Consumer resin
manner that prevents contamination and promotes prevention
cannabis retail operations and distribution/fulfillment centers
of accidental or improper consumption. The guide recom-
placing product in child-resistant containers and/or exit bags
mends packaging types, terminology, nomenclature, graphics,
should maintain proper child-resistant certification documen-
and symbols that enable consumers to determine product type,
tation for all such containers and exit bags.
strain, potency, concentration, dosage, and expiration date,
5.1.10 Standard classifications of child-resistant packaging
such that informed decisions can be made.
may be referenced, including Classification D3475 and Guide
F2097.
5. Packaging
5.1 General Provisions for All Forms of Consumer Resin
5.2 Additional Packaging Guidelines by Product Form:
Cannabis Products (for example, flowers, resins and products
5.2.1 Single-Serve Ingestible Consumer Resin Cannabis—A
derived from them), for Retail or Other Legal Distribution
single-serve ingestible solid or liquid consumable resin canna-
Channel:
bis product containing no more than the maximum legally
5.1.1 All consumer resin cannabis products should be
permissible amount of active THC (as defined by local juris-
placed in an immediate container that is opaque, tamper-
diction) should be placed in a child-resistant and opaque
evident, and child-resistant prior to the time of transfer to a
container. Plastic packaging used as containers for solid or
retail operation or distribution/fulfillment center, except as
liquid ingestible consumer resin cannabis products should be at
specifically identified in this guide. Containers should be tested
least 0.004 in. (4 mils) in thickness and be heat-sealed with no
and certified by a properly accredited and recognized authority,
easy-open tab, dimple, corner, or flap as to make it difficult for
using commonly accepted protocols such as those defined with
a child to open and as a tamper-proof measure. Other packag-
authorities having jurisdiction. The immediate and secondary
ing substrates such as glass, metal, and other non-leaching
containersshouldnotexposethecannabisproductstoanytoxic
food-grade materials, including paperboard, may be used.
or harmful contaminants. See Classification D3475. A film
5.2.2 Multi-Serve Solid Ingestible Consumer Resin Canna-
wrapper used to seal product for freshness/shelf life or to
bis products should either:
prevent odor leaching may be used in addition to but not in lieu
5.2.2.1 Be separated into child-resistant opaque internal
of the immediate container.
containers of no more than the maximum legally permissible
5.1.2 Non-edible cannabis flower product may be placed in
single-serve amount of active THC (as defined by local
an immediate container that is transparent.
jurisdiction), with the larger external packaging not required to
5.1.3 All resin cannabis products should be placed in an
be child-resistant, or
opaque or semi-opaque exit bag at the point of sale, prior to
transfer to a consumer/patient/licensed caregiver, such that it 5.2.2.2 Be placed in a child-resistant opaque container that
does not exceed the legal maximum sales limit established by maintains its child-resistant effectiveness for multiple openings
the local jurisdiction. and be demarcated into separate or easily separable single
D8233 − 19
servings, with each serving containing no more than the 6.1.1 Font Size and Language—Labeling text on the imme-
maximum legal amount of active THC (as defined by local diate and any secondary container should be no smaller than a
jurisdiction). 6-point font (or ⁄16 in.) and should be printed in the officially
5.2.3 Multi-Serve Liquid Ingestible Consumer Resin recognized language(s) of the country or province.
Products—Items containing more than a single serving of the
6.1.2 Unobstructed and Conspicuous—Labeling text on the
maximum legally permissible amount of active THC (as
immediateandanysecondarycontainershouldbeunobstructed
defined by local jurisdiction) should be placed in a child-
and conspicuous. A cannabis operation may affix multiple
resistant container that includes a measuring com
...