HC Deb 12 December 1986 vol 107 cc292-3W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to extend the guidelines for child-resistant tops on tablet containers to cover liquid medicine bottles.

Mrs. Currie

The guidelines that all solid dose oral medicines should be dispensed in child resistant containers (CRCs) unless the patient is elderly, handicapped or requests that they should not be were issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to its members. In addition, the Medicinces (Child Safety) Regulations require CRCs for solid dose aspirin Or paracetamol sold over the counter. We have no plans to amend these guidelines or regulations.

I understand that there is no British standard for a CRC effective for liquid medicines because of the problem of residues from dried-up liquids impeding CRC mechanisms. We are keeping in close touch with the Pharmaceutical Society on this problem. All medicines should in all circumstances be kept away from children.

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