What Is Child-resistant packaging?
Updated · Vorex Packaging
Child-resistant packaging is packaging designed to be significantly difficult for young children to open, while remaining usable by adults. It is required by law for certain products, such as some medicines, household chemicals and cannabis in the USA and Canada, and designs are typically validated through standardized testing with children and adults.
Child-resistant designs use features such as press-and-turn caps, push-and-slide trays, zipper closures that need two hands, or locking tabs. The goal is to slow young children down without making the package impossible for adults, including seniors, to use.
Rules to know
- USA: the Consumer Product Safety Commission enforces the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, with test protocols in federal regulations. Cannabis rules vary by state.
- Canada: the Cannabis Regulations and other federal rules set packaging requirements, including child-resistant features, for certain products.
Requirements change, and they differ by product type, state and province, so check current rules for your product before ordering.
What buyers should ask
Ask the supplier which component provides the child-resistant feature and what testing documentation exists for it. A child-resistant claim usually depends on the complete package, not only the box or bag material.
