UK urged to adopt child-resistant cannabis packaging

UK – Campaigners have urgently raised concerns about the need for immediate packaging regulations and more precise guidance for medicinal cannabis.

Specialists are raising concerns over the safe storage of medicinal cannabis, particularly in households with young children, due to the availability of these products.

According to specialists, manufacturers and regulators are urged to prioritise child-resistant packaging as a top safety measure.

The packaging regulations will significantly reduce the risk of accidental ingestion by young children.

Child-resistant packaging is designed to be difficult for children but accessible to adults, featuring squeeze-and-turn caps, press-and-twist lids, or blister seals.

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 establish clear rules governing these mechanisms for the EU and the UK.

According to studies, correctly tested closures can reduce the rate of unintentional poisoning by up to 90%.

The Child-resistant packaging is backed by research from the British Toxicology Society, which indicates that around two-thirds of accidental child medication poisonings involve medicines belonging to adults.

In England and Wales, accidental poisoning fatalities in under‑10s fell from 151 to 23 per 100,000 after Child-resistant packaging was implemented. This packaging is a vital safety step, although ‘child-resistant’ does not mean ‘child-proof’.

Additionally, the National Poisons Information Service reports around 9,550 calls in 2019/20 relating to children’s accidental poisoning, with about half involving medication.

The research emphasises that these products must meet specific packaging guidelines to avoid appearing appealing to young children. This is because of Cannabis edibles and tinctures often resembling sweets or drinks, thus posing a unique challenge.

According to experts, manufacturers must use child-resistant closures that have been tested and comply with ISO and EU standards, and dispensers should provide clear instructions on usage.

Additionally, storage instructions must be provided at the point of sale, and parents should store products out of reach for children.

Blister packs must also undergo various safety tests, similar to those for reclosable packaging, as children can still access them.

With the growing use of medicinal cannabis, secure storage and packaging practices must evolve alongside new product types.

As medicinal cannabis becomes available for more UK families, the need for enhanced child-resistant packaging is a call to action for all of us, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public.

In protecting children from accidental ingestion and ensuring responsible use at home, effective closures and clear safety guidance, such as child-resistant packaging, are not just essential but also highly effective.

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