ASTM_D_8197_-_22.pdf

Designation:D819722Standard Specification forMaintaining Acceptable Water Activity(aw)Range(0.55 to0.65)for Dry Cannabis Flower Intended for Human/AnimalUse1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8197;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe concept of water activity is more than 50 years old.For many years,researchers tried to equatebacterial growth potential with water content.William Jones Scott showed in 1953 that microorgan-isms have a limiting awlevel for growth(1),2thus being the first to establish that bacterial growthcorrelated with water activity,not water content of organic materials.It is now generally accepted thatawis more closely related to the microbial,chemical,and physical properties of foods and othernatural products than is total moisture(2).It is firmly established that growth of specific microbes andmetabolism of microbe associated toxins are inhibited at or below specific water activity values(3,4).Total water content(moisture)measurements do not necessarily reflect water available for microbialgrowth and thus are an inaccurate means for controlling microbial growth,because the water contentsufficient for microbial growth is dependent on the substance being tested.Water activity measurementis more accurate than total water content measurement as it relates directly to the water available(inliquid form)to microbes and is constant relative to the particular microbe,regardless of the substancebeing tested.1.Scope1.1 This specification covers the recommended range of awsuitable for safe and efficacious storage of cannabis flowers orportions thereof.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety,health,and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D8196 Practice for Determination of Water Activity(aw)inCannabis Flower3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 water activity,aw,nthe partial vapor pressure ofwater in a substance divided by the vapor pressure of purewater at the same temperature which is calculated by dividingthe partial vapor pressure of water in the substance(P)by thevapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature(Po),thatis,aw=P/(Po).This describes quantitatively the capability ofthe cannabis flower in a sealed container to affect the humidityof the containers headspace air.4.Significance and Use4.1 This specification is designed for use on cannabis flowerby cannabis producers,processors,dispensers,testinglaboratories,and end users.1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 onCannabis and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.04 on Processing andHandling.Current edition approved Oct.1,2022.Published November 2022.Originallyapproved in 2018.Last previous edition approved in 2021 as D8197 21.DOI:10.1520/D8197-22.2The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end ofthis standard.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.14.2 Analysis and control of water activity should be consid-ered an important quality control step in ensuring a cannabisflower sample is being stored under optimal storage conditionsto prevent mold or other microbiological growth and breakage.4.3 All constituent testing,other than water activity inaccordance with Practice D8196,shall be carried out on thecannabis flower sample that has been equilibrated to thisspecification in accordance with 6.1 and 6.2.4.4 Maintaining the requisite awthroughout the supplychain from completion of drying through merchandising en-sures safety and quality for the consumer.4.5 Water activity(aw)is often used