The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP), offers several technical committees that focus on various industry interests and activities. One of the committees is the Medical Device Packaging Technical Committee. According to IoPP, “MDPTC consists of over 300 members representing the medical device packaging industry from many disciplines including material manufactures, material converters, device manufacturers, educational institutions, package testing facilities, and test equipment and medical packaging equipment manufacturers.
IoPP subcommittee chair Karen Greene explains, “MDPTC’s mission is to provide a forum for packaging professionals representing the medical device industry for discussion, exchange and development of information on issues that affect them in areas of organization, problems and technical issues, regulations, standards and new technologies.”
She describes the group’s vision statement via the following points:
•Provide the latest information on national and international regulatory requirements as they affect the packaging of medical devices.
•Provide a forum to voice the device industry packaging position on issues that affect them.
•Provide education to new members entering the medical device area of package engineering.
•Provide a timely list of tools and documents (guides, test methods, and standards) that are helpful when performing the tasks related to the package engineering of medical devices.
•Exchange nonproprietary information regarding new materials, equipment and systems, to improve the overall performance and quality of the medical device packaging industry.
•Act as a liaison for technical and regulatory updates between organizations of mutual interest such as AAMI, ISO, ASTM, ISTA and the U.S. FDA.
MDPTC is co-chaired by Alison Tyler of Beacon Converters and Russell Darley, Sealed Air Corp. MDPTC subcommittees include labeling, industry standards and regulatory liaison, education, electrostatic discharge, sustainability, sterilization, and combination products.
MDPTC will hold its annual meeting at HealthPack 2012. The March 6-8 event in Albuquerque, NM, says Darley, “will include discussions of 2011 [subcommittee] activities and future goals, as well as a roundtable discussion on selected case-study topics. The MDPTC continues to look for members willing to participate in groups and support committee fundraising by performing project presentations at IoPP educational events. In addition to the committee meeting, facility arrangements are being made to allow for [subcommittees] to meet individually.”
