ASTM D8450-22

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:D8450 −22
Standard Specification for
Environmental Conditions While Packaging Cannabis/Hemp
Flower
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8450; 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 move the cured crop
to packaging used for distribution to another licensed operator or the end user.
1. Scope ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1 This standard specifies the environmental conditions,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
such as temperature, humidity, and lighting, under which
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
cannabis/hemp flowers intended for human use are to be
packaged to ensure the safety, quality, and weight stabilization
2. Referenced Documents
of the packaged flower. This specification does not apply to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
frozen cannabis/hemp nor to cannabis/hemp intended for
D8197 Specification for Maintaining Acceptable Water Ac-
extraction.
tivity (a ) Range (0.55 to 0.65) for Dry Cannabis Flower
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1.2 This specification applies only to controlling an indoor
Intended for Human/Animal Use
environment (heat, cooling, humidity control) surrounding
D8270 Terminology Relating to Cannabis
packagingoperations.Outdooroperationsareoutsidethescope
of this specification and are not addressed.
3. Terminology
1.3 This specification is to be followed by licensed opera- 3.1 Definitions:
tors in the cannabis/hemp space who move the cured crop(s)
3.1.1 General—Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
into consumer or non-consumer packaging used for distribu- nology D8270, unless otherwise indicated.
tion.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.4 Security of the cannabis/hemp flower during the pack- 3.2.1 environmental conditions, n—the atmosphere immedi-
aging process is not within the scope of this specification.
ately surrounding the cannabis/hemp flower as it is transferred
fromdrying/curingtopackaging,whethercontrolledwithinthe
1.5 This specification is intended to remain valid until the
immediate vicinity in which the flower is contained, or in the
packaged cannabis/hemp flower is placed in storage or transit.
larger space surrounding the packaging operation of the flower.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 mean kinetic temperature, n—a simplified way of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
expressing the overall effect of temperature fluctuations during
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
storage or transit of perishable goods.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.2.2.1 Discussion—The MKT is widely used in the phar-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
maceutical industry. The mean kinetic temperature can be
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
expressed as (1):
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
CannabisandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD37.04onProcessingand Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Handling. the ASTM website.
Current edition approved May 1, 2022. Published July 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
D8450-22. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8450−22
~∆H⁄RT ! ~∆H⁄RT !
1 2
T 5 ∆H⁄R⁄2ln t e 1 t e 1 … 7. Specification for Environmental Conditions While
@
K 1 2
(1)
∆H⁄RT
~ !
n
1 t e ⁄ t 1 t 1 … 1 t # Packaging Cannabis/Hemp Flower
n 1 2 n
7.1 The temperature of the area in which the packaging
where:
operations of cannabis/hemp flower are conducted shall be
T = mean kinetic temperature in kelvins (K),
K
–1
maintained between 1 °C and 30 °C.
∆H = activation energy (in kJ mol ),
–1 –1
R = gas constant (in J mol K ),
7.2 The relative humidity of the environment surrounding
T to T = temperatures at each of the sample points in
1 n the packaging operations of cannabis/hemp flower shall be
kelvins, and
adjusted according to Table 1:
t to t = time intervals at each of the sample points.
1 n NOTE 1—These environmental conditions while packaging ensure that
the cannabis/hemp in the finished package will not have an a exceeding
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3.2.3 relative humidity, n—the relative humidity (RH) of an
0.65 if moved to a higher temperature within the ranges above. If lower
air-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure
thanthespecifiedrelativehumiditiesaremaintainedduringpackaging,the
of water vapor (pH O) in the mixture to the equilibrium vapor
2 a of the cannabis/hemp may not rise into the 0.55 to 0.65 range specified
w
pressure of water (p·H O) over a flat surface of pure water at
in Specification D8197. Placement of an effective hu
...