Child-resistant packaging

A bottle of aspirin with a child-resistant cap bearing the instruction "push down & turn to open"

Opening many C-R packages involves two dissimilar motions

Child-resistant packaging or CR packaging is special packaging used to reduce the risk of children ingesting hazardous materials. This is often accomplished by the use of a special safety cap. It is required by regulation for prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, Nicotine Containing Electronic Cigarette devices or Refill containers that can contain Nicotine EUTPD 36.7^[1]^[2]^[3] pesticides, and household chemicals.^[4] In some jurisdictions, unit packaging such as blister packs is also regulated for child safety.^[5]

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated in a press release that "There is no such thing as child-proof packaging. So you shouldn't think of packaging as your primary line of defense. Rather, you should think of packaging, even child-resistant packaging, as your last line of defense."^[6]

Background

The child-resistant locking closure for containers was invented in 1967 by Dr. Henri Breault.^[7]

A history of accidents involving children opening household packaging and ingesting the contents led the United States Congress to pass the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, authored by U.S. Senator Frank E. Moss of Utah. This gave the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission^[8]^[9] the authority to regulate this area. Additions throughout the decades have increased the initial coverage to include other hazardous items, including chemicals regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Although child-resistant lids are not perfect, there is strong evidence that use of child-resistant lids has reduced child poisoning rates in the United States substantially.^[10] Coordination exists for improving international standards on requirements and protocols.

Difficulty opening

Child-resistant packaging can be a problem for some aged individuals or people with disabilities.^[11]^[12]^[13] Regulations require designs to be tested to verify that most adults can access the package.^[14] Some jurisdictions allow pharmacists to provide medications in non-CR packages when there are no children in the same house.

Requirements

The regulations are based on protocols of performance tests of packages with actual children, to determine if the packages can be opened. More recently, additional package testing is used to determine if aged individuals or people with disabilities have the ability to open the same packages.^[15]^[16]

Often the CR requirements are met by package closures which require two dissimilar motions for opening. Hundreds of package designs are available for packagers to consider.

Standards

ISO 8317 Child-resistant packaging - Requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packages.
ISO 13127 Packaging—Child resistant packaging—Mechanical test methods for reclosable child resistant packaging systems
ASTM D3475, Standard Classification for Child-Resistant Packages
ASTM F3159, Consumer Safety Specification for Liquid Laundry Packets
ASTM F2517-17 Standard Specification for Determination of Child Resistance of Portable Fuel Containers for Consumer Use

Citations

^ "The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
^ Sanbar, Shafeek S. (2007). Legal medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-323-03753-2. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
^ Winter, Harold (2005-05-01). Trade-offs: an introduction to economic reasoning and social issues. University of Chicago Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-226-90225-8. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
^ Gaunt, Michael J. (May 2007). "Child-resistant does not mean Childproof". Pharmacy Times. Retrieved 3 March 2009.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Smith, G; Barone, S (16 March 2005). "PPPA, Unit Packaging" (PDF). CPSC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
^ "New National Emergency Hotline Assessed; CPSC Joins in Launching Poison Prevention Week to Stop 30 Deaths Each Year" (Press release). CPSC. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
^ "Dr. Henri Breault". Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^ CPSC (February 9, 2007). "Poison Prevention Packaging Information". U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
^ Viscusi, W. Kip (1995). Fatal tradeoffs: public and private responsibilities for risk. Oxford University Press US. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-19-510293-2. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
^ Schwebel, D C (2017). "Unintentional child poisoning risk: A review of causal factors and prevention studies" (PDF). Children's Health Care. 46 (2): 109–130. doi:10.1080/02739615.2015.1124775. S2CID 73912457. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
^ de la Fuente, Javier. "The use of a universal design methodology for developing child-resistant drug packaging". Master's Thesis. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
^ de la Fuente, Javier; Bix, Laura. "Perceptions and attitudes of people with disabilities and older adults about child-resistant drug packaging" (PDF). Journal for Patient Compliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
^ de la Fuente, Javier; Bix, Laura (2010). "User-pack Interaction: Insights for Designing Inclusive Child-resistant Packaging". In Langdon, P.; Clarkson, P.; Robinson, P. (eds.). Designing Inclusive Interactions. pp. 89–100. doi:10.1007/978-1-84996-166-0_9. ISBN 978-1-84996-165-3.
^ CPSC. "Testing procedure for special packaging". U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
^ CPSC. "Poison Prevention Packaging". US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
^ Bix, Laura; de la Fuente, Javier; Pimple, Kenneth D.; Kou, Eric (2009). "Is the test of senior friendly/child resistant packaging ethical?". Health Expectations. 12 (2): 430–437. doi:10.1111/j.1369-7625.2009.00534.x. PMC 5060504. PMID 19650857.

General and cited references

Lockhart, H., and Paine, F.A., Packaging of Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Products, 2006, Blackie, ISBN 0-7514-0167-6
Yam, K. L., Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6

External links

[1] "The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.

[Sanbar2007-2] Sanbar, Shafeek S. (2007). Legal medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-323-03753-2. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2010.

[Winter2005-3] Winter, Harold (2005-05-01). Trade-offs: an introduction to economic reasoning and social issues. University of Chicago Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-226-90225-8. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 6 November 2010.

[4] Gaunt, Michael J. (May 2007). "Child-resistant does not mean Childproof". Pharmacy Times. Retrieved 3 March 2009.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[5] Smith, G; Barone, S (16 March 2005). "PPPA, Unit Packaging" (PDF). CPSC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

[6] "New National Emergency Hotline Assessed; CPSC Joins in Launching Poison Prevention Week to Stop 30 Deaths Each Year" (Press release). CPSC. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2009.

[cnd-7] "Dr. Henri Breault". Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.

[8] CPSC (February 9, 2007). "Poison Prevention Packaging Information". U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.

[Viscusi1995-9] Viscusi, W. Kip (1995). Fatal tradeoffs: public and private responsibilities for risk. Oxford University Press US. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-19-510293-2. Retrieved 6 November 2010.

[10] Schwebel, D C (2017). "Unintentional child poisoning risk: A review of causal factors and prevention studies" (PDF). Children's Health Care. 46 (2): 109–130. doi:10.1080/02739615.2015.1124775. S2CID 73912457. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.

[11] Fuente, Javier. "The use of a universal design methodology for developing child-resistant drug packaging". Master's Thesis. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2013-10-16.

[12] Fuente, Javier; Bix, Laura. "Perceptions and attitudes of people with disabilities and older adults about child-resistant drug packaging" (PDF). Journal for Patient Compliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-10-16.

[13] Fuente, Javier; Bix, Laura (2010). "User-pack Interaction: Insights for Designing Inclusive Child-resistant Packaging". In Langdon, P.; Clarkson, P.; Robinson, P. (eds.). Designing Inclusive Interactions. pp. 89–100. doi:10.1007/978-1-84996-166-0_9. ISBN 978-1-84996-165-3.

[14] CPSC. "Testing procedure for special packaging". U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Retrieved 21 August 2015.

[15] CPSC. "Poison Prevention Packaging". US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.

[16] Bix, Laura; de la Fuente, Javier; Pimple, Kenneth D.; Kou, Eric (2009). "Is the test of senior friendly/child resistant packaging ethical?". Health Expectations. 12 (2): 430–437. doi:10.1111/j.1369-7625.2009.00534.x. PMC 5060504. PMID 19650857.

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v t e Packaging
General topics	Active packaging Child-resistant packaging Contract packager Edible packaging Modified atmosphere/modified humidity packaging Overpackaging Package delivery Package pilferage Package testing Package theft Packaging engineering Resealable packaging Reusable packaging Reuse of bottles Shelf life Shelf-ready packaging Shelf-stable Sustainable packaging Tamper-evident Tamper resistance Wrap rage
Product packages	Alternative wine closure Ammunition box Banana box Beer bottle Box wine Case-ready meat Coffee bag Cosmetic packaging Currency packaging Disposable food packaging Drink can Egg carton Evidence packaging Field ration Flour sack Foam food container Food packaging Fuel container Gas cylinder Glass milk bottle Growler Juicebox Low plastic water bottle Luxury packaging Milk bag Optical disc packaging Oyster pail Popcorn bag Pharmaceutical packaging Plastic milk container Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags Sand bag Seasonal packaging Self-heating food packaging Screw cap (wine) Single-serve coffee container Spray paint Toothpaste pump dispenser Unit dose Water bottle Wine bottle
Containers	Aerosol spray dispenser Aluminium bottle Aluminum can Ampoule Antistatic bag Bag-in-box Bag Barrel Biodegradable bag Blister pack Boil-in-bag Bottle Box Bulk box Cage Case Carboy Carton Chub Clamshell Corrugated box design Crate Disposable cup Drum Endcap Envelope Euro container Flexible intermediate bulk container Flexible tank Folding carton Glass bottle Gunny sack Inhaler Insulated shipping container Intermediate bulk container Jar Jerrycan Jug Keg Mesh bag Multilayered packaging Multi-pack Packet (container) Padded envelope Pail Paper bag Paper sack Plastic bag Plastic bottle Retort pouch Salvage drum Sachet Water sachet Security bag Shipping container Shipping tube Skin pack Spray bottle Squround Stand-up pouch Steel and tin cans Tetra Brik Thermal bag Tub (container) Tube Unit load Vial Wooden box
Materials and components	Adhesive Aluminium foil Bail handle Bioplastic Biodegradable plastic BoPET Bubble wrap Bung Cellophane Closure Coated paper Coating Coextrusion Container glass Corrugated fiberboard Corrugated plastic Cushioning Desiccant Double seam Flip-top Foam peanut Gel pack Hot-melt adhesive Humidity indicator card Kraft paper Label Lid Linear low-density polyethylene Liquid packaging board Living hinge Low-density polyethylene Meat absorbent pad Metallised film Modified atmosphere Molded pulp Nonwoven fabric Overwrap Oxygen scavenger Package handle Packaging gas Pallet Paper Paper pallet Paperboard Plastic-coated paper Plastic film Plastic pallet Plastic wrap Polyester Polyethylene Polypropylene Pressure-sensitive tape Pump dispenser Screw cap Screw cap (wine) Security printing Security tape Shock detector Shock and vibration data logger Shrink wrap Slip sheet Staple (fastener) Strapping Stretch wrap Susceptor Tamper-evident band Tear tape Temperature data logger Time temperature indicator Tinplate Velostat
Processes	Aseptic processing Authentication Automatic identification and data capture Blow fill seal Blow molding Calendering Canning Coating Containerization Converting Corona treatment Curtain coating Die cutting Die forming (plastics) Electronic article surveillance Extrusion Extrusion coating Flame treatment Glass production Graphic design Hazard analysis and critical control points Hermetic seal Induction sealing Injection moulding Lamination Laser cutting Molding Package tracking Papermaking Plastic extrusion Plastic welding Printing Product development Production control Quality assurance Radio-frequency identification Roll slitting Shearing (manufacturing) Thermoforming Track and trace Ultrasonic welding Vacuum forming Vacuum packaging Verification and validation
Machinery	Barcode printer Barcode reader Bottling line Calender Can seamer Cap torque tester Cartoning machine Case sealer Check weigher Conveyor system Drum pump Extended core stretch wrapper Filler Heat gun Heat sealer Industrial robot Injection molding machine Label printer applicator Lineshaft roller conveyor Logistics automation Material-handling equipment Mechanical brake stretch wrapper Multihead weigher Orbital stretch wrapper Packaging machinery Pallet inverter Palletizer Rotary wheel blow molding systems Seed-counting machine Shrink tunnel Staple gun Tape dispenser Turntable stretch wrapper Vertical form fill sealing machine
Environment, post-use	Biodegradation Can collecting Closed-loop box reuse Environmental engineering Glass recycling Industrial ecology Life-cycle assessment Litter Packaging waste Paper recycling PET bottle recycling Plastic recycling Recycling Reusable packaging Reverse logistics Source reduction Sustainable packaging Waste management
Category: Packaging

v t e Child safety devices
Domestic	Bed Infant Toddler Baby monitor Child safety lock Childproofing Child-resistant packaging Kiddy Bag Playpen Pool fence
Travel	Child harness School bus crossing arm Child safety seat