ASTM D8346-21a

Standard Guide for Requirements for Quality Related Professions Within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 As the cannabis and hemp industries expand and their products become more available as consumable products, the following requirements and expectations within the industry become increasingly significant (Practice , Terminology ), requiring:  
5.1.1 The safety, reliability, and quality of its products;  
5.1.2 Worker safety;  
5.1.3 Environmental sustainability;  
5.1.4 Regulatory compliance;  
5.1.5 The need for different levels of qualified professionals; and  
5.1.6 Development of qualified training and certificate programs.  
5.2 The primary objectives of this standard are as follows:  
5.2.1 Provide a general overview of the BoK required for the professions listed in Section 7;  
5.2.2 Provide recommendations to form the foundation for training and subsequent recognition/certificate systems that enable consumers, employers, organizational management, government agencies, and others who rely upon a skilled workforce to distinguish between qualified and non-qualified workers.  
5.2.3 Recommend requirements that agencies can use to develop and document the specific criteria used for training or certificate programs.  
5.3 Users of this guide shall document deviations from the recommended requirements to inform their clients of the criteria applied in either the training or the certificate programs offered. As the Cannabis and Hemp industries mature, this guide will be updated to reflect current thinking and requirements.  
5.4 The Bok elements are applicable to certificate programs, while the BoK, experiential and educational elements are applicable to certification process requirements
SCOPE
1.1 This guide can provide certification bodies, training providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best- practice guidance for administering their respective programs for quality-related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries.  
1.2 This guide recommends requirements for experience, training, education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) necessary for quality related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries listed in Table 1.    
1.3 This guide provides recommendations for articulating professional requirements for training and education or earning certificates. Its content does not supersede requirements for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional entities such as government or other regional regulatory bodies.  
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-2021
• ICS: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources
• Technical Committee: D37 - Cannabis
• Drafting Committee: D37.06 - Personnel Training, Assessment, Credentialing

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: D8346 − 21a
Standard Guide for
Requirements for Quality Related Professions Within the
1
Cannabis and Hemp Industries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8346; 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 D8308 Practice for Cannabis/Hemp Operation Compliance
Audits
1.1 This guide can provide certification bodies, training
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best- prac-
E2708 Terminology for Accreditation and Certification
tice guidance for administering their respective programs for
2.2 Other Standards:
quality-related professions within the cannabis and hemp
3
21CFR 111 Dietary Supplements
industries.
3
21CFR 117 FSMA and Food Safety
3
1.2 This guide recommends requirements for experience,
21CFR 210 Pharmaceutical Packaging and Holding
training, education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) neces- 3
21CFR 211 Pharmaceuticals
sary for quality related professions within the cannabis and
hemp industries listed in Table 1. 3. Terminology
1.3 This guide provides recommendations for articulating 3.1 Definitions:
professionalrequirementsfortrainingandeducationorearning 3.1.1 certificate, n—a document (letter, card, or other me-
dium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the suc-
certificates. Its content does not supersede requirements for
trainingorearningacertificatedefinedbyjurisdictionalentities cessful completion of a credentialing program’s requisites.
E2659, E2708
such as government or other regional regulatory bodies.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.2 certification agency, n—the organizational or admin-
istrative unit that offers or operates, or both, a certification
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- program. E2659, E2708
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.3 certificate program, n—a non-degree-granting educa-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion of training program consisting of (1) a learning event or
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
series of events designed to educate or train individuals to
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
achieve specified learning outcomes within a defined scope,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
and (2) a system designed to ensure individuals receive a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
certificateonlyafterverificationofsuccessfulcompletionofall
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
program requisites, including but not limited to an evaluation
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
of learner attainment of intended learning outcomes. E2659,
E2708
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.4 certification, n—procedure and action by a duly au-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
thorized body of determining, certifying, and attesting in
D8229 Guide for Corrective Action and Preventive Action
writing to the qualifications of individuals, processes,
(CAPA) for the Cannabis Industry
procedures, or items in accordance with application require-
ments.
3.1.4.1 personnel certification, n—procedure and action by
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and
a duly authorized body of determining, verifying, and attesting
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.06 on Personnel Training,
in writing to the qualifications of individuals in a profession, in
Assessment, Credentialing.
accordance with application requirements associated with that
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. Originally
approved in 2021. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as D8346 – 21. DOI:
profession. E2659, E2708
10.1520/D8346-21A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
the ASTM website. www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D8346 − 21a
TABLE 1 Cannabis and Hemp Qualit
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D8346 − 21 D8346 − 21a
Standard Guide for
Certification Requirements for Quality Professional
VocationsRelated Professions Within the Cannabis/Hemp
1
Industry Cannabis and Hemp Industries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8346; 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
1.1 This guide provides recommendation to certificate issuers for administering certificates and developing associated training
programs for quality vocations within the cannabis/hemp industries. All references to cannabis within this guide are also inclusive
to the hemp cannabis varieties.can provide certification bodies, training providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best-
practice guidance for administering their respective programs for quality-related professions within the cannabis and hemp
industries.
1.2 This guide provides the general requirements and recommendations recommends requirements for experience, training,
education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) necessary quality-related vocations within the cannabis/hemp industry for quality
related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries listed in Table 1.
1.3 The vocational requirements recommended in this standard provide a guide for entities that issue certificates, offer training
programs, and for individuals that seek careers in the respective vocation.
1.3 This guide provides recommendations for articulating vocationalprofessional requirements for certifications. training and
education or earning certificates. Its content does not supersede requirements, vocational training, and certification conditions
requirements for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional entities such as government or other regional regulatory
bodies.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.06 on Personnel Training, Assessment,
Credentialing.
Current edition approved April 1, 2021Nov. 1, 2021. Published June 2021December 2021. Originally approved in 2021. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as D8346
– 21. DOI: 10.1520/D8346-21.10.1520/D8346-21A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D8346 − 21a
TABLE 1 General Requirements, Experience, Education, and
Body of Knowledge (BoK) by Vocation
Section
Cannabis/Hemp Quality Professionals 7
Certified Cannabis Quality Auditor 7.1
(CCQA)
Certified Cannabis Quality Control 7.2
Technician (CCQCT)
Certified Cannabis Quality Engineer 7.3
(CCQE)
Certified Cannabis Preventive Controls 7.4
Qualified Individual (CCPCQI)
Certified Cannabis Quality Manager 7.5
(CCQM)
TABLE 1 Cannabis and Hemp Quality Professions
Section
Cannabis and Hemp Quality 7
Professionals
Cannabis and Hemp Quality Auditor 7.1
Cannabis and Hemp Quality Control 7.2
Technician
Cannabis and Hemp Quality Engineer 7.3
Cannabis and Hemp Preventive 7.4
Controls Specialist
Cannabis and Hemp Quality Manager 7.5
D8229 Guide for Corrective Action and Preventive Action (CAPA) for the Cannabis Industry
D8308 Practice for Cannabis/Hemp Operation Compliance Audits
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
E2708 Terminology for Accreditation and Certification
2.2 Other Standards:
3
21CFR 111 Dietary Supplements
3
21CFR 117 FSMA and Food Safety
3
21CF
...