Child Resistant Pharmaceutical Packaging: Balancing Safety, Compliance, and Accessibility

In the modern pharmaceutical market, consumers may take child-resistant (CR) packaging for granted, but pharma brands know that while ensuring child resistance is their responsibility for public health protection, the form and function of their CR packaging is also an opportunity to create brand distinction.

For both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, the right CR solution must prevent accidental ingestion while remaining accessible to legitimate users, including seniors or those with limited dexterity. Innovative methods of achieving these dual goals can bring lasting benefits. As a leader in pharmaceutical packaging and an expert in child-resistant solutions, Keystone has delivered the highest quality folding cartons to the healthcare industry for over a century, while continuing to innovate and expand our offerings. Our approach combines regulatory compliance, user-friendly design, and proven performance to CPSC 16 CFR 1700.20 CR/SF standards (child-resistant and senior-friendly), ensuring every package protects both patients and the reputation of the companies we serve.

Meeting Global Compliance Standards

Child-resistant pharmaceutical packaging must adhere to rigorous testing and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Keystone ensures our child-resistant packaging products meet the stringent requirements set by key regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), the FDA (for labeling and claims), the EMA, Health Canada, and others. In the U.S., CPSC protocols define how packaging must be tested, including child panel testing (children ages 42–51 months must be at least 80% unable to access more than 8 units or a toxic amount) and senior usability evaluations (at least 90% of adults ages 50–70 must be able to open the package within 5 minutes).

Beyond compliance, brands need packaging partners who proactively track emerging regulations, ensuring long-term readiness for market changes.

Design Innovation for Safety and Usability

Effective CR packaging requires more than a locking feature. The design must integrate safety mechanisms into forms that are intuitive for adult users yet resistant to children’s attempts. Keystone’s portfolio includes designs like Ecoslide-RX, Ecoslide-OTC, Key-Pak, and Push-Pak, each engineered for a specific balance of safety, usability, and brand adaptability.

Features such as push-through blister protection, locking sliders, or peel-push mechanisms are carefully tested to ensure they meet regulatory performance requirements while aligning with the product’s shelf presence and target audience.

Materials and Sustainability Considerations

Modern CR packaging must also consider sustainability. Keystone offers solutions that utilize recyclable board, reduced-plastic designs, and optimized materials without sacrificing safety performance. This approach allows pharmaceutical and OTC brands to meet both environmental goals and regulatory obligations in one package.

In-House Testing and Quality Assurance

Before any child-resistant design leaves Keystone’s facility, it undergoes rigorous in-house testing that mirrors CPSC 16 CFR 1700.20 protocols. We evaluate force-to-open requirements, closure reliability, and senior accessibility to confirm both safety and usability. By running these tests internally, Keystone shortens development timelines, reduces the risk of delays from external validation labs, and ensures every package is prepared to meet compliance standards and perform reliably in real-world conditions.

(Note: official market compliance is ultimately demonstrated through recognized third-party testing, but Keystone’s in-house evaluations accelerate the process and improve outcomes.)

Protect your patients, your brand, and your market position with proven child-resistant solutions.

Contact a Keystone representative to explore packaging strategies tailored to your pharmaceutical products.