detergents, and cleaners), vitamins and minerals, and aspirin. It is interesting to note
that aspirin is no longer the most common cause of accidental poisoning (this is
probably due to child resistant packaging).
Section II. THE PHARMACY AND POISON PREVENTION
9-4. THE POISON PREVENTION PACKAGING ACT OF 1970
The purpose of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 is to reduce
poisonings among small children. The Act provides that certain household products
(such as aspirin and certain other drugs, including oral prescription drugs; furniture
polish; oil of wintergreen, antifreeze; some cleaners for drains and ovens; turpentine;
and cigarette lighter fluid), which are found to be hazardous or potentially hazardous
must be sold in safety packaging. This safety packaging must be designed so that most
children under five years of age cannot open the packages.
9-5. THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE POISON PREVENTION PACKAGING ACT
OF 1970
a. The Act requires the previously mentioned products to be packaged in
containers which are sufficiently difficult to open in order to prevent 80 percent of
children under five years of age from opening them. However, the containers must
allow access to at least 90 percent of adults who will be able to open and properly close
the packaging conveniently.
b. The Act requires that the prescription filled in the pharmacy--with the
exceptions noted in paragraph 9-6 below--be dispensed in child-resistant containers.
The requirements below are especially important:
(1) Prescriptions which are not to be refilled. For a prescription that is not
to be refilled, the medication must be dispensed in either a glass or a plastic container
with a child-resistant top.
(2) Prescriptions which are to be refilled. For a prescription that is to be
refilled, the medication must be dispensed in either a glass or a plastic container which
has a child-resistant top. If the medication is dispensed in a glass container, a new
child-resistant top must be placed on the container whenever the prescription is refilled.
If the medication is dispensed in a plastic container, upon refilling, the medication must
be placed in a new plastic container with a new child-resistant top. That means that a
new label must be prepared for the refill when the medication is placed in a plastic
container.
MD0806
9-4