CPSC issues clarification

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a clarification of its new rule requiring child-resistant packaging for OTC-switched drugs, those that had once been prescription-only oral drugs now approved for OTC sale. The commission said there could be some misinterpretation of the rule as published with regard to the effective dates. OTC-switched drugs must have child-resistant packaging if the OTC switch application was submitted on or after January 29, 2002. Drugs in this category that hit the market after January 29 but whose switch application submission was made prior to that date are not covered by the requirement. In addition, the commission made clear that nonprescription active ingredients in previously prescription-only drugs do not trigger the special packaging requirements.