Child-resistant packaging requirements

In many industries, safety is a priority, especially when it comes to preventing accidental ingestion or access by children. This is where child-resistant (CR) packaging plays a vital role. Child resistant packaging requirements are stringent, aiming to safeguard children while still providing ease of use for adults, particularly seniors. Understanding these requirements is crucial for manufacturers to ensure compliance and safety across all markets.

What is child-resistant packaging?

Child-resistant packaging is designed to be difficult for children under five years of age to open or access harmful substances. This packaging must strike a balance between preventing children from tampering with or ingesting hazardous products and ensuring adults, mainly seniors, can open the packaging without much difficulty. Compliance with global standards, such as ISO/EN 8317 and US 16 CFR 1700.20, is essential for any packaging solution that claims to be child-resistant.

Why are child resistant packaging requirements important?

The requirements exist to reduce the risk of poisoning incidents among children, a concern heightened by the increasing use of medications and chemical products in households. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), accidental poisoning remains a significant health concern, especially for children under five. Strict regulations on CR packaging help to mitigate this risk by enforcing designs that are not easily operable by children.

Key global standards for child-resistant packaging

To meet regulatory requirements, manufacturers must adhere to specific testing standards that validate the child-resistance and senior-friendliness of their packaging. The most recognized standards include:

1. ISO/EN 8317: This standard is widely accepted in Europe and other regions. It specifies requirements and testing procedures for reclosable packaging, ensuring that it remains child-resistant while being easy for adults to use. The testing involves groups of children and seniors to evaluate the design's effectiveness.
2. US 16 CFR 1700.20: In the United States, this regulation sets forth testing standards similar to ISO/EN 8317 but with localized requirements. The U.S. standard mandates rigorous testing to certify that packaging designs prevent children from gaining access within a time frame while still allowing easy access for adults.

Read more about these requirements.

Features of effective child-resistant packaging

1. Secure closures: The packaging must feature mechanisms that children find challenging to open but are intuitive for adults. For instance, Locked4Kids employs a unique locking system that integrates an extra interactive element, enhancing safety without complicating the adult user experience.
2. Material considerations: Using materials that are both robust and safe is crucial.
3. Ease of use for adults: While child safety is a priority, the senior-friendly aspect cannot be overlooked. You require senior-friendliness just as much as child-resistance, since seniors will mainly be the ones using the CR-packaging.

Testing protocols and certification

Before a product can carry a CR certification, it must undergo a lot of testing. The process usually involves two key user groups:

• Children aged 42 to 51 months: The packaging is tested to see if it prevents children from opening it within a specified period. This ensures that even curious children cannot easily access the product inside.
• Adults aged 50 to 70: The design is evaluated to ensure it remains user-friendly for older adults. This demographic testing is crucial because adults must be able to access their packaging without unnecessary difficulty.

Staying ahead with compliant packaging

Ensuring that solutions are compliant with child resistant packaging requirements is a non-negotiable aspect of product safety in several industries. Investing in up-to-date and compliant CR-packaging is not only about meeting legal requirements, but also about building trust and ensuring safety in every household.

For more information on implementing child-resistant packaging or to learn about innovative solutions, feel free to contact us or request a sample of our products.

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