These specifications for cotton bale packaging materials are approved by the Joint Cotton Industry Bale Packaging Committee (JCIBPC) for 2008-crop cotton and are intended for use as manufacturing guidelines. These specifications are designed (1) as guidelines for manufacturing and use (2) to improve the quality and protection of the cotton bale and (3) to improve the appearance and marketability of the American cotton bale in domestic and foreign markets. Improper or careless handling, storage and transportation may result in damage to packaging materials.
All bales of cotton packaged and identified in accordance with the testing programs of the JCIBPC are exempt from these provisions.
The JCIBPC, formed in 1968 at the suggestion of the National Cotton Council of America (NCC) and the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI), is composed of two segments. One represents raw cotton (producers, ginners, warehousemen, merchants, and cooperatives) and the other represents textile manufacturers. The Chairman of the NCC appoints raw cotton committee members after consultation with the Council’s certified interest organizations. Starting in 2005 the cotton committee of the National Council of Textile Organizations, succeeded ATMI as the primary group responsible for textile manufacturer committee member appointments. The NCC reserves the right to appoint additional textile manufacturer committee members. The approval, rejection or modification of materials used for cotton bale wrapping requires a majority vote from each of the committee segments. These decisions are based on testing in both the laboratory and the field for at least two years.
The JCIBPC met February 27, 2008, in Memphis, TN, to develop 2008 Specifications. Amendments to the 2007 specifications were adopted by the JCIBPC. The specifications then underwent an additional examination by the JCIBPC Specification’s Review Committee. The revised specifications are identical to the specifications for the previous year’s crop except for the modifications below:
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Added a definition for a certificate of analysis
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Removed hot blade weld technology as an approved welding method in section 1.2.3. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Strapping
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Added a colored yarn clarification in section 2.2.1. Spiral-Sewn Burlap Bagging. The JCIBPC also agreed to consider a phase out of burlap as an approved material in two to three years
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Added identification, certification, and test methods in requirements section 2.2.2. Cotton Bagging
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Approved a circular woven bag fabrication made from woven polypropylene containing 1000 Denier yarns in both warp and weft (filling) directions, 8 warp and weft (filling) yarns per inch with a minimum base fabric weight of 2.1 oz/sq. yd. (coated fabric weight 2.8 oz/sq. yd.) and a minimum coating thickness of 1.0 mil in section 2.2.4. Polypropylene Bagging
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Introduced a new section named 4. Certificate of Analysis and Approved List
Carryover -- Except as provided above, bale packaging materials carried over from the previous year, which were eligible for packaging 2007-crop cotton may be used to package the current -crop of cotton.
