ISO 8115-3:2022

Cotton bales - Part 3: Packaging and labelling

This document specifies details for packaging and labelling of cotton bales.

Balles de coton — Partie 3: Emballage et étiquetage

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Mar-2022
• ICS: 59.060.10 - Natural fibres
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 72/SC 1 - Spinning preparatory, spinning, twisting and winding machinery and accessories
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 72/SC 1 - Spinning preparatory, spinning, twisting and winding machinery and accessories
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 25-Mar-2022
• Due Date: 15-Mar-2022
• Completion Date: 25-Mar-2022

Relations

• Revises: ISO 8115-3:1995 - Bales - Part 3: Bales of cotton - Packaging and labelling
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 8115-3:2022 is an international standard detailing the packaging and labelling of cotton bales. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this second edition supersedes the original 1995 version. The standard aims to ensure consistent, durable, and practical packaging methods that protect cotton bales during handling and transportation while providing clear, standardized labelling information for efficient identification and traceability.

This standard emphasizes the protection of cotton bales through appropriate wrapping and secure strapping, alongside robust labelling practices to facilitate logistics, quality control, and buyer requirements.

Key Topics

Protective Wrapping

• Cotton bales must be fully covered with protective fabric wrapping, preferably made of cotton or other suitable man-made fibers excluding polypropylene (PP).
• Use of plastic foil wrapping is permitted but not ideal due to moisture balance concerns.
• Colors for synthetic or plastic wrappings should avoid transparency and white to maintain bale protection.
• Buyer-specific requirements may allow alternative bagging materials.

Strapping

• Strapping must be located inside the protective wrapping using rustproof steel or synthetic materials except polypropylene.
• Straps must be strong enough to withstand transport stresses.
• Strapping hoops should be arranged parallel with aligned locks on one bale side to permit machine opening.
• A space of 300 mm to 350 mm may be reserved for sampling if requested.
• Bale strapping requirements depend on bale length: six hoops for 1,060 mm length and nine hoops for 1,590 mm length.

Labelling

• Each bale must bear a mark identifying the shipping lot, matching the information on shipping and delivery documents.
• Marking ink should not penetrate the protective wrapping, and all bales must be marked consistently at the same spot.
• Label information must include:
  • Unique bale number
  • Gin number and/or name
• Optional label details may include:
  • Compressor number/name
  • Shipper’s name
  • Gross mass and tare weight
  • Cotton name and country of origin
  • Year of harvest
  • Quality parameters such as trash content, fibre length, and short fibre content
  • Additional buyer-specified information
• Labels must be securely attached in a visible, consistent position, resistant to damage during transport.

Readability

• Critical information (shipping lot and bale number) must be human-readable and preferably machine-readable using barcodes, QR codes, or RFID tags.
• Enhanced machine readability supports automated processing in logistic and quality control systems.

Applications

ISO 8115-3:2022 applies primarily to cotton producers, ginners, compressing facilities, shippers, and buyers involved in the global cotton supply chain. Its applications include:

• Standardizing cotton bale packaging to protect fibre quality during transport and storage.
• Ensuring consistent labelling practices that support traceability and inventory management.
• Facilitating efficient handling and automated processing in warehouses and shipping terminals.
• Enabling buyers to identify specific bale characteristics and quality through clear labelling.
• Complying with export/import regulations requiring standardized bale identification.

Adoption of this standard helps reduce damage and loss, streamlines supply chain operations, and improves communication between stakeholders.

Related Standards

ISO 8115-3:2022 is part of the ISO 8115 series covering various aspects of cotton bales. Users can refer to:

• ISO 8115-1: Covers packing and tying requirements for cotton bales, which complements the strapping instructions in Part 3.
• Other ISO standards related to textile machinery and fibre testing that ensure quality and consistency in cotton production processes.

For further terminology and compliance guidance, the ISO Online Browsing Platform and IEC Electropedia provide valuable resources for standardization terms related to cotton and textile industries.

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By adhering to ISO 8115-3:2022, organizations involved in cotton bale production and shipping can achieve uniform packaging and labelling standards that enhance protection, traceability, and operational efficiency across the international cotton trade.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 8115-3
Second edition
2022-03
Cotton bales —
Part 3:
Packaging and labelling
Balles de coton —
Partie 3: Emballage et étiquetage
Reference number
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Protective wrapping . 1
5 Strapping . 1
6 Labelling . 2
6.1 General . 2
6.2 Label information . 2
6.3 Readibility . 2
iii
Foreword
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