Standard Practice for Sampling of Cannabis/Hemp Post-Harvest Batches for Laboratory Analyses

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This standard will provide best practices for the sampling of harvested cannabis inflorescence with the intent to assure representative sampling.  
5.2 The laboratory results and their respective harvest batch associations have implications and significance to regulatory requirements, quality control considerations throughout the product’s life cycle, and the safety of the consumers who may be adversely affected by consumption of product that was not tested in a homogeneous manner (3).  
5.3 This standard does not address the appropriate sampling of processed cannabis materials such as such as extracts, seeds, edibles, topicals, etc.  
5.4 This standard addresses the sampling of cannabis inflorescence destined for human or animal consumption.  
5.5 This standard does not address pre-harvest field sampling or large untrimmed or unprocessed harvest batches.
SCOPE
1.1 Cannabis harvested materials require sampling strategies throughout their life cycle, from cultivation to the end consumer. For purposes of this standard, the term cannabis is inclusive of all cannabis inflorescence, including hemp varieties. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cannabis/hemp for human or animal consumption has safety implications throughout the life cycle from cultivation to end consumer. This standard provides best practice procedures and protocols for sampling batches of harvested cannabis inflorescence. Cannabis/hemp materials often exhibit variability across different parts within the same plant or across different plants within the same cultivar, or both, (1, 2).2 Thus, sampling strategies are required which yield a representative a sample across a harvest batch. Representative sampling is required to ensure that the qualitative and quantitative test results accurately reflect cannabinoid identification, potency, identification and concentration of terpenes, concentration of trace metals, microbiological activity, mycotoxins, and concentration of pesticides across the batch.  
1.2 Where procedural aspects of this practice differ from local regulatory or jurisdictional requirements, the local regulatory or jurisdictional authority’s directives shall take precedence.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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
31-Oct-2020
Technical Committee
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

Buy Standard

Standard
ASTM D8334/D8334M-20 - Standard Practice for Sampling of Cannabis/Hemp Post-Harvest Batches for Laboratory Analyses
English language
7 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

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: D8334/D8334M − 20
Standard Practice for
Sampling of Cannabis/Hemp Post-Harvest Batches for
1
Laboratory Analyses
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8334/D8334M; 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 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 Cannabis harvested materials require sampling strate-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
gies throughout their life cycle, from cultivation to the end
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
consumer. For purposes of this standard, the term cannabis is
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
inclusive of all cannabis inflorescence, including hemp variet-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ies.Thequalitativeandquantitativecharacteristicsofcannabis/
hemp for human or animal consumption has safety implica-
2. Referenced Documents
tions throughout the life cycle from cultivation to end
3
consumer. This standard provides best practice procedures and 2.1 ASTM Standards:
protocols for sampling batches of harvested cannabis inflores- D8270 Terminology Relating to Cannabis
cence.Cannabis/hempmaterialsoftenexhibitvariabilityacross
different parts within the same plant or across different plants 3. Terminology
2
within the same cultivar, or both, (1, 2). Thus, sampling
3.1 Definitions—For general terms related to cannabis, see
strategies are required which yield a representative a sample
Terminology D8270.
across a harvest batch. Representative sampling is required to
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ensure that the qualitative and quantitative test results accu-
3.2.1 aliquot, n—a discrete quantity of a cannabis/hemp
rately reflect cannabinoid identification, potency, identification
(raw material) inflorescence collected by laboratory personnel/
and concentration of terpenes, concentration of trace metals,
certified/trained sample collectors that shall be combined into
microbiological activity, mycotoxins, and concentration of
representative samples for purposes of testing.
pesticides across the batch.
3.2.2 cannabis, n—a genus of flowering plants within the
1.2 Where procedural aspects of this practice differ from
Cannabaceae family identified by their distinctive glandular
local regulatory or jurisdictional requirements, the local regu-
trichomes, divided serrated leaves, and tough bast fibers.
latory or jurisdictional authority’s directives shall take prece-
dence.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—In this standard, the term cannabis is
used to mean cannabis raw material that includes resin
1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
cannabis, nutritional cannabis, and industrial cannabis, that
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
includes hemp, in a harvested raw material form.
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
3.2.3 composite sample, n—a final mixture of all sample
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
aliquots pulled within a specific harvest batch, homogenized,
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
and labelled.
from the two systems shall not be combined.
3.2.4 harvest batch, n—a specifically identified quantity of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
cannabis inflorescence, that is uniform in cultivar, harvested
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
within a concurrent time frame, and, cultivated using the same
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2.5 inflorescence, n—a group or cluster of flowers ar-
ranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.03 on Laboratory.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/D8334_D8334M-20. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.