ASTM D8244-20
(Guide)Standard Guide for Analytical Laboratory Operations Supporting the Cannabis Industry
Standard Guide for Analytical Laboratory Operations Supporting the Cannabis Industry
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Laboratories are integral to cannabis industry operations and consumer safety and satisfaction. Standardized laboratory practices play a key role in establishing and demonstrating product safety, quality, and compliance with the regulations that govern product quality and safety.
4.2 This guide is intended for use by laboratories as an overview of best practices for operations providing support to the cannabis industry and its many products. This guide is based on the best practices as articulated in the FOCUS (Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards) and AHPA (American Herbal Products Association) standards, as well as GMP compliance guidelines.5,6
4.3 The contents of this guide reflect the typical requirements imposed by different laboratory regulatory guidelines. It provides recommendations to laboratory operations, GLP, GMP, personnel competency, proficiency testing, facility operations, security, sample transfer and receipt, sample handling and disposal, equipment and reagent considerations, reference standards, analytical procedures, data processing and handling, quality assurance, traceability, and accreditation recommendations.
4.4 This guide is recommended for use by cannabis laboratory personnel in management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, quality control, and personnel training capacities.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides recommendations for a laboratory licensed or otherwise designated to provide analytical support within the cannabis industry. Within the scope of this guide, the term cannabis is inclusive of hemp plants and derived products. This guide presents best laboratory practices, recommended certifications, recommended types of analyses typically required in the cannabis industry, and recommended quality functions associated with laboratories supporting the cannabis industry.
1.2 These recommendations establish a basis for oversight for the analytical testing of cannabis products. Developed as a complement to existing good laboratory practices (GLP) and supporting conformance to current good manufacturing practices (GMP), these recommendations focus on the personnel, security, sample handling and disposal, quality support, data management, and reporting activities.
1.3 This guide generally describes the properties of cannabis and cannabis-derived products to be analyzed and recommends the types of testing required.
1.4 No recommendations found within this guide shall preclude observance of federal, state, or local regulations, which may be more restrictive or have different requirements.
1.5 This guide provides guidelines for compliance with good laboratory practices (GLP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP) quality applications.
1.6 This guide applies to all cannabis-containing products commercially manufactured and distributed for consumer use.
1.7 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.8 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.
1.9 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
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D8244 − 20
Standard Guide for
Analytical Laboratory Operations Supporting the Cannabis
1
Industry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8244; 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 priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide provides recommendations for a laboratory
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
licensed or otherwise designated to provide analytical support
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
withinthecannabisindustry.Withinthescopeofthisguide,the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
termcannabisisinclusiveofhempplantsandderivedproducts.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
This guide presents best laboratory practices, recommended
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
certifications, recommended types of analyses typically re-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
quired in the cannabis industry, and recommended quality
functions associated with laboratories supporting the cannabis
2. Referenced Documents
industry.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 These recommendations establish a basis for oversight
D8282 Practice for Laboratory Test Method Validation and
for the analytical testing of cannabis products. Developed as a
Method Development
complement to existing good laboratory practices (GLP) and
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
supporting conformance to current good manufacturing prac-
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General Requirements for the Compe-
tices (GMP), these recommendations focus on the personnel,
tence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
security, sample handling and disposal, quality support, data
ISO 17034:2016 General Requirements for the Competence
management, and reporting activities.
of Reference Material Producers
1.3 This guide generally describes the properties of canna-
2.3 Other Standards:
bis and cannabis-derived products to be analyzed and recom-
ILAC B7:10/2015 Mutual Recognition Arrangement
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mends the types of testing required.
(MRA)
1.4 No recommendations found within this guide shall
3. Terminology
preclude observance of federal, state, or local regulations,
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
which may be more restrictive or have different requirements.
3.1.1 cannabis, n—a genus of flowering plants within the
1.5 This guide provides guidelines for compliance with
Cannabaceae family identified by their distinctive glandular
good laboratory practices (GLP) and good manufacturing
trichomes, divided serrated leaves, and tough bast fibers.
practices (GMP) quality applications.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—In this guide, the term cannabis is used
1.6 This guide applies to all cannabis-containing products
to refer to cannabis raw material that includes resin cannabis,
commercially manufactured and distributed for consumer use.
nutritional cannabis, that includes hemp, in a harvested raw
material form.
1.7 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
3.1.2 cannabis-derived product, n—aproduct,otherthanthe
as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in
cannabis plant itself, which contains or is derived from
this standard.
cannabis or hemp by manufacturing as defined.
1.8 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 appro-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.03 on Laboratory. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
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Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2020. DOI: 10.1520/ AvailablefromInternationalLaboratoryAccreditationCooperation(ILAC),the
D8244-20. ILAC Secretariat, P.O. Box 7507, Silverwater NSW 2128,Australia, http://ilac.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D8244 − 20
3.1.3 controlled area, n—an area to which access is physi- rangement (MRA) (ILAC B7:10/2015) or an equivalent na-
cally limited to protect individuals or
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