Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Product Packaging Requirements

Medicine must be packaged in a specific way.


With each type of product, there are specific requirements when it comes to packaging. This ranges from technological products and environmental packaging requirements to food products and how they are packaged for freshness and safety, as well as labeling. These packaging requirements are regulated by the government and can cost a company a large amount of money in fines and recalls if not properly followed.


Pill Packaging


Medicines in pill form have specific packaging requirements when they are sold to the public or by prescription. Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or Advil can be sold in plastic bottle form or in packages. In packages, pills are individually kept in plastic with a foil or paper back to keep the medicine as potent as possible. This packaging method also allows someone to easily keep track of how many pills they have. In bottle form, a child safety cap is required on all medicines, so small children will not accidentally take pills which look like candy and overdose.


Food Packaging


Most foods sold in supermarkets in packages must have ingredients listed on the package or information about the product and what type of dietary qualities the food has, like percentage of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates and sugars. Perishable foods, such as dairy products and eggs, must have expiration dates printed on them as well, telling the customer when the food will most likely begin to spoil. As for packaging materials, all food sold on shelves of stores must be sealed in plastic or within a cardboard container so it is not easily effected by bacteria or insects in the air of the market.


Technology Packaging


Different technological products require a specific type of packaging to keep them safe while transferred from the factory to the customer, and to keep products from causing environmental hazards while they are waiting to be sold. For example, specific items like printer cartridges contain poisonous chemicals. If broken while in the package, the plastic container is designed to hold these chemicals and prevent leaks. Styrofoam peanuts is also not allowed by companies like IBM for packaging computer hardware products, as Styrofoam is environmentally unfriendly to produce and often contributes to litter. Many technology companies have stepped up to make their packaging more environmentally friendly. This may include not using certain toxic glues which could be environmentally harmful when they are disposed of, or binding and padding products in packages with large amounts of toxic plastics which cannot be recycled.







Tags: bottle form, must have, packaging requirements, requirements when, technological products, when they