1.1 This specification covers products made from plastics (including packaging and coatings) that are designed to be biodegradable under the marine environmental conditions of aerobic marine waters or anaerobic marine sediments, or both. (Possible environments are shallow and deep salt water and brackish water.)

1.2 This specification is intended to establish the requirements for labeling materials and products, including packaging, as "biodegradable in marine waters and sediments."

1.3 The properties in this specification are those required to determine if products (including packaging) will biodegrade satisfactorily, including biodegrading at a rate comparable to known compostable materials. Further, the properties in the specification are required to assure that the degradation of these materials will not diminish the value or utility of the marine resources and habitat.

1.4 This specification does not describe contents or their performance with regard to biodegradability.

1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains to the test methods portion of this standard: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate health and safety practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.