ASTM_D_8423_-_22.pdf

Designation:D842322Standard Specification forEnvironmental Conditions for Post-packaged Storage andRetail Merchandising of Cannabis/Hemp Flower1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8423;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe 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 thecannabis/hemp flowers sojourn are in order.This specification is needed to ensure safety,quality,andweight stabilization of cannabis/hemp flower and will be used by purveyors who may store thepackaged,cured crop along the supply chain from packaging to another licensed operator or the enduser.1.Scope1.1 This standard specifies the environmental conditions,such as temperature,humidity,and lighting under whichcannabis/hemp flowers in fresh format intended for human useare packaged to be stored to ensure the safety,quality,andweight stabilization of the packaged flower.1.1.1 This specification does not apply to frozen cannabis/hemp.1.1.2 This specification does not apply to cannabis/hempintended for extraction.1.2 This specification applies to controlling the environmentsurrounding packaged cannabis/hemp flower.1.3 This specification is to be followed by licensed opera-tors in the cannabis/hemp space who move the packagedcrop(s)through the distribution supply chain to another li-censed operator or to the end user.1.4 Purveyors of cannabis/hemp flower include,but are notnecessarily limited to:the packager,transportation companies,warehousing operations,and retail operations.1.5 Security of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower while instorage is not within the scope of this specification.1.6 This specification is intended to remain valid untilownership of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is transferredto another licensed operator or to the final consumer.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety,health,and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.2.Terminology2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:2.1.1 environmental conditions,nthe atmosphere immedi-ately surrounding the cannabis/hemp flower,whether containedwithin the package in which the flower is contained,or in thelarger space surrounding the package containing the flower.2.1.2 mean kinetic temperature,na simplified way ofexpressing the overall effect of temperature fluctuations duringstorage or transit of perishable goods.2.1.2.1 DiscussionThe MKT is widely used in the phar-maceutical industry.The mean kinetic temperature can beexpressed as2:TK5 H/R/-lnt1eH/RT1!1 t2eH/RT2!1 1 tneH/RTn!t11 t21 1 tn#(1)where:TK=the mean kinetic temperature in degrees Kelvin,H=the activation energy(in kJ mol1),R=the gas constant(in J mol-1K1),1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 onCannabis and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.04 on Processing andHandling.Current edition approved June 15,2022.Published August 2022.DOI:10.1520/D8423-222USP-NF,Mean Kinetic Temperature in the Evaluation of Temperature Excur-sions During Storage and Transportation of Drug Products,2020.DOI: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 StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.1T1to Tn=the temperatures at each of the sample points indegrees Kelvins,andt1to tn=time intervals at each of the sample points.2.1.3 relative humidity,nthe relative humidity(RH)of anair-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressureof water vapor(pH2O)in the mixture to the equilibrium vaporpressure of water(pH2O)over a flat surface of pure water ata given temperature.RH=pH2OpH2O(2)3.Significance and Use3.1 The cannabis/hemp industry,from seed to consumption,is undergoing a transition and modernization.Thus,standardsfor ensuring safety,quality,and weight stabilization during keysteps of the