New standards support the safety and quality of packaged cannabis and hemp flower as it moves through the supply chain.

Aug 09, 2022

ASTM International’s cannabis committee (D37) recently approved a suite of three new standards related to environmental conditions during packaging, transit, and storage of cannabis and hemp flower.

“These standards are designed to support the safety and quality of packaged cannabis and hemp flower as it moves through the supply chain,” notes ASTM member Jonathan DeVries. “This includes the activities following curing and drying, namely packaging, transit, and storage, until it reaches the final end user.”

Included in the suite of standards developed by the committee’s processing and handling subcommittee are:

• Standard Specification for Environmental Conditions for Post Packaged Storage and Retail Merchandising of Cannabis/Hemp Flower (soon to be published as D8423);

• Standard Specification for Environmental Conditions While In-Transit for Packaged Cannabis/Hemp Flower (soon to be published as D8432); and

• Standard Specification for Environmental Conditions While Packaging Cannabis/Hemp Flower (D8450).

DeVries notes that the suite of standards will be useful to a variety of stakeholders throughout the entire supply chain including manufacturers, transportation and storage companies, retailer purveyors, laboratories, regulators, and ultimately consumers.

There are a number of related proposed standards under development and DeVries notes that anyone with an interest in cannabis/hemp flower safety and quality during packaging, transit, and storage is welcome to share feedback.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. JOIN ASTM.

Learn more about ASTM’s cannabis committee, existing cannabis standards and publications, relevant proficiency testing programs and certification, training, news and events, and much more.

ASTM International is a not-for-profit nongovernmental organization that develops voluntary consensus standards and defers to appropriate government authorities to determine the legal and regulatory framework regarding the control and use of cannabis.