Our test proctors administering adult-use package testing are often asked, “Why are you only testing adults 50-70 years of age?” Here’s the story behind that decision. When the U.S. Congress passed the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (PPPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) required child-resistant packaging for specific drugs and household chemicals that could harm children. Package manufacturers developed and introduced new child-resistant packaging to comply with the requirements. Per the PPPA, the specialty packaging required certification that they were child resistant. At the time, the adult-use effectiveness portion of the package test protocols included adult test subjects 18-45 years of age, a significant change from our current adult-use effectiveness subjects who are 50-70. 

After the adoption of the new packaging in 1970, the CPSC continued to conduct studies regarding child ingestion of drugs and harmful substances. In 1986, the CPSC conducted an ingestion study with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC.) The results indicated that children were being poisoned by the drugs belonging to their grandparents. Many of these incidents occurred because the grandparents misused the special packaging; the closures were loose or left off entirely. In other cases, the drugs were not in special packaging at all. The CPSC tested the packaging with adults over a wide range of ages up to 75 years. Many adults, especially seniors, could not open special packaging. Children were being harmed because adults could not use the packaging properly, and the testing methods at the time did not reveal the problem. 

The CPSC worked with the industry to revise the adult test methods to increase the age of the adults tested. In 1995, the CPSC issued new requirements that amended the test procedures. Adults aged 50 to 70 are now tested to measure adult-use effectiveness for most packages. These changes became effective in January 1998. Special packaging is improving, and packages are more manageable for adults to use properly while still maintaining child resistance. 

Over 55 years ago, our founder, Gene Miller, was instrumental in developing the testing protocols with individuals at the CPSC. Bird Dog Marketing Group is proud of our legacy and our continued commitment to saving the lives of children from accidental poisoning.