Child Resistant (CR) Packaging (Last Updated 12/03/2007)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is supporting voluntary standards activities for child-resistant packaging. CPSC staff participates in ASTM Committees D10 Packaging and F15 Consumer Products, as well as Subcommittees D10.31 Child Resistant Packaging and Closure Systems, D10.32 Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging, D10.33 Mechanical Dispensers, and F15.10 Standards for Flammable Liquid Containers. Staff is currently participating in activities related to improving the safety, efficacy, and senior adult ease of use of packages designed to reduce poisonings of children younger than 5 years old.
The Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) was passed by Congress in 1970 and became effective in 1972. The PPPA covers 31 substances and categories of substances commonly found throughout the home, including aspirin, acetaminophen, iron-containing drugs, methanol, and others. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that poisoning deaths of children under 5 years of age due to exposure to household chemicals have fallen from 216 in 1972 to an annual average of 36 for 2002-2004.
Additional Information
Safety Alerts:
Fact Sheets:
Incident Data:
CPSC Staff Reports, Memoranda and Contracts:
Contact ASTM International
For further information, contact Len Morrissey at lmorriss@astm.org or ASTM International at http://www.astm.org
Contact CPSC
For additional information or to comment, please contact cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
Join a voluntary standards Email Subscription List
