Feb 22, 2018

ASTM International’s recently-formed cannabis committee (D37) is inviting stakeholders to help create standards related to processing, packaging, quality management systems, and more. The group met for the first time in June and now has about 350 members.

The proposed "Guide for Establishing an Effective Quality Management System (QMS) in the Cannabis Industry," aims to establish a set of generally agreed upon guidelines for an effective QMS framework for an organization, regardless of size, that needs to demonstrate its ability to provide cannabis-related products and/or services that consistently meet consumer safety and applicable local and state regulatory requirements throughout the supply chain. This standard is meant to encompass both recreational and medicinal cannabis activities associated with cultivation, processing, packaging, labeling, testing, laboratory, and distribution activities. The standard guide will focus on the core fundamental elements of an effective QMS necessary to ensure consumer and product safety, product efficacy, and adoption from industry, local and state governmental agencies. See this work item (WK61355) for more information.

The proposed “Practice for the Labeling of Packaged Cannabis Products” aims to provide standards for packaging and labeling at every stage of the value chain, from how wholesale/raw materials are packaged and labeled, to how retail products are packaged and labeled. According to member Andy Heins, vice president of All Packaging Company, these standards will help address the widely varying regulations across many states, provinces, and jurisdictions. He says, “The current lack of consistency, as well as the frequency of changes being instituted by regulatory agencies cause substantial confusion, waste, and additional costs to both manufacturer and consumer.” See this work item (WK60039) for more information.
 
The work item entitled, “Qualitative and Quantitative Standards of Products Resulting from the Processing of Cannabis Raw Materials and Manufacturing from These Derivatives” aims to help standardize terminology and classifications of various products and then define product specifications.  Darwin Millard, a botanical extraction specialist at Plant Consulting Group, LLC, says that, “These specifications could be used by government agencies, businesses, and consumers alike to support product safety and quality control.” See this work item (WK60043) for more information.
 
A proposed “Test Method for Measuring Cannabis Moisture” aims to use “water activity” as a cannabis moisture measurement method. Building on that, the proposed “Specification for Acceptable Water Activity Range for Dry Cannabis Flower” will aim to determine ideal water activity range for cannabis.  According to organizers, these two standards are needed to address the fact that cannabis is unsafe and loses quality if water activity is too high or too low. See work items WK60134 and WK60135 for more information.
 
The proposed, “Practice for Quality Management System on Corrective Action Preventative Action (CAPA) for Cannabis Cultivation, Processing, Testing and Distribution” will help formalize a system for documenting processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. The CAPA approach will help detect, investigate, prevent, monitor, and correct quality-related issues, according to organizers who add that this effort will help companies meet regulatory and customer requirements while improving effectiveness and efficiency. See work item WK60084 for more information.
 
These and related standards development activities are being supported in part through memorandums of understanding with the American Herbal Products Association and the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS). For more information on the committee, read this recent article from Standardization News magazine.
 
The next meeting of the committee is June 24-26, in San Diego, California (USA). To join, go here: www.astm.org/JOIN.