ASTM D8432-22

Standard Specification for Environmental Conditions while In Transit for Packaged Cannabis/Hemp Flower

SCOPE
1.1 This standard specifies the environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and lighting under which cannabis/hemp flowers packaged in fresh format and intended for human use are to be maintained in transit to ensure the safety and quality 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/hemp intended for extraction.  
1.2 This specification applies to controlling the environment surrounding packaged cannabis/hemp flower in transit.  
1.3 This specification is to be followed by licensed operators in the cannabis/hemp space who move the packaged crop(s) through the distribution supply chain to another licensed operator or to the end user.  
1.4 Security of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower while in transit is not within the scope of this specification.  
1.5 This specification is intended to remain valid until ownership of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is transferred to another licensed operator or to the final consumer.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2022
• ICS: 11.120.99 - Other standards related to pharmaceutics
• Technical Committee: D37 - Cannabis
• Drafting Committee: D37.04 - Processing and Handling

Overview

ASTM D8432-22: Standard Specification for Environmental Conditions while In Transit for Packaged Cannabis/Hemp Flower establishes requirements for the control of environmental factors-namely temperature, humidity, and lighting-during the transportation of packaged, fresh cannabis and hemp flowers intended for human use. This standard is essential for licensed operators responsible for moving cannabis and hemp products through the distribution supply chain, ensuring that product safety, quality, and shelf life are preserved during transit.

This specification does not apply to frozen cannabis/hemp or product destined for extraction and does not address security concerns during transit.

Key Topics

• Environmental Conditions:

  • Relative humidity must be maintained between 60% and 65% in the immediate environment surrounding the packaged flower during transport.
  • Temperature must not exceed 30°C for more than 2 hours and should not fall below 1°C at any time to avoid freezing.
  • Light exposure, both visible and ultraviolet, should be minimized during transit; use of UV filters or LED light fixtures is recommended.

• Monitoring and Record Keeping:

  • Continuous or regular monitoring of temperature and humidity using appropriate devices is required.
  • Accurate record-keeping, whether automated or manual, is necessary to document compliance with the standard throughout transit.

• Maintaining Product Quality:

  • Limiting temperature fluctuations and controlling humidity helps prevent mold, rot, and degradation, increasing product stability and shelf life.
  • The mean kinetic temperature concept is referenced to assess cumulative temperature exposure during transit and storage.

• Applicability:

  • This standard applies until the product is transferred to another licensed entity or the end consumer.

Applications

• Licensed Transport Operators: Companies and individuals licensed to transport cannabis and hemp products must comply with ASTM D8432-22 to ensure regulatory adherence and product integrity.
• Quality Assurance: Production and distribution companies can use this standard to maintain quality and ensure their flowers meet consumer and regulatory expectations.
• Supply Chain Logistics: Cold-chain and climate-controlled logistics providers servicing the cannabis industry can leverage the specification to design and validate their transportation protocols.
• Regulatory Compliance: Meeting the environmental requirements set by ASTM D8432-22 supports compliance with both regional and international cannabis transportation standards.

Related Standards

For holistic coverage of cannabis/hemp flower packaging, storage, and transportation, the following standards are closely associated:

• ASTM D8197 - Specification for Maintaining Acceptable Water Activity Range for Dry Cannabis Flower.
• ASTM D8233 - Guide for Packaging and Labeling of Consumer Resin Cannabis Products.
• ASTM D8196 - Practice for Determination of Water Activity in Cannabis Flower.
• ASTM D8270 - Terminology Relating to Cannabis.
• ASTM D8309 - Guide for Stability Testing of Cannabis-Based Products.

These related standards offer comprehensive guidance on cannabis product quality, safety, and stability, supporting the application of ASTM D8432-22 across the cannabis and hemp supply chain.

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Standards Content (Sample)

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: D8432 −22
Standard Specification for
Environmental Conditions while In Transit for Packaged
Cannabis/Hemp Flower
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8432; 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
from the packaging process via the supply chain to another licensed operator or to the end user.
1. Scope 1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This standard specifies the environmental conditions,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
such as temperature, humidity, and lighting under which
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
cannabis/hemp flowers packaged in fresh format and intended
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
for human use are to be maintained in transit to ensure the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
safety and quality of the packaged flower.
1.1.1 This specification does not apply to frozen cannabis/
2. Terminology
hemp.
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.1.2 This specification does not apply to cannabis/hemp
2.1.1 environmental conditions, n—the atmosphere immedi-
intended for extraction.
atelysurroundingthecannabis/hempflower,whethercontained
within the package in which the flower is contained, or in the
1.2 Thisspecificationappliestocontrollingtheenvironment
surrounding packaged cannabis/hemp flower in transit. larger space surrounding the package containing the flower.
2.1.2 mean kinetic temperature, n—a simplified way of
1.3 This specification is to be followed by licensed opera-
expressing the overall effect of temperature fluctuations during
tors in the cannabis/hemp space who move the packaged
storage or transit of perishable goods.
crop(s) through the distribution supply chain to another li-
2.1.2.1 Discussion—The MKT is widely used in the phar-
censed operator or to the end user.
maceutical industry. The mean kinetic temperature can be
1.4 Security of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower while in 2
expressed as :
transit 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
1.5 This specification is intended to remain valid until
1 … 1 t # (1)
n
ownership of the packaged cannabis/hemp flower is transferred
to another licensed operator or to the final consumer. where:
T = the mean kinetic temperature in degrees Kelvin,
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the K
-1
∆H = the activation energy (in kJ mol ),
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
-1 -1
R = the gas constant (in J mol K ),
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
T to T = the temperatures at each of the sample points in
1 n
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
degrees Kelvins, and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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
air-water mixture is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure
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:
D8432-22. 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
D8432 − 22
of water vapor (pH O) in the mixture to the equilibrium vapor 6.2.2 The total elapsed time from packaging to the final
pressure of water (p·H O) over a flat surface of pure water at consumer (including non-transit storage time and transit time)
a given temperature. shall not exceed the limits in the following chart:
RH=pH O⁄p·H O (2)
2 2
Mean Kinetic Temperature Maximum Combined Storage
°C and Transit time (days)
3. Significance and Use
30 195
25 390
3.1 The cannabis/hemp industry, from seed to consumption,
20 780
is undergoing a transition and modernization. Thus, standards
15 1560
for ensuring safety, quality, and weight stabilization during key
10 3120
steps of the cannabis/hemp flowers sojourn are in order. 5 6240
3.2 This specification is intended to ensure safety, quality,
and weight stabilization of packaged cannabis/hemp flower
6.3 Light exposure (visible and ultraviolet) of the cannabis/
during transit operations.
hemp flower shall be limited to the minimum necessary for
3.3 This specification is intended to be used by purveyors inspections.
who move the packaged cured flower between licensed opera- 6.3.1 When possible, UV filte
...