asked the Minister for Health the regulations currently governing the preparation and packaging of medicines to help make them child resistant.
18.
Written Answers. - Packaging of Medicines.
17.
asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce regulations for the sale of household medicines to ensure that all such medicines are packaged in child resistant containers with a view to minimising the incidents of accidental child poisoning.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
Under an agreement entered into by my Department with the pharmaceutical industry in conjunction with the National Drugs Advisory Board, certain restrictions are in operation in relation to the packaging of medicines, including the use of child resistant containers, with a view to ensuring public safety generally and, in particular, with a view to the prevention of accidental poisoning of children.
In addition, when considering applications for marketing authorisations for individual medicinal products the National Drugs Advisory Board ensure among other things that such authorisations are granted only where the board are satisfied that the type of container to be used meets their safety criteria. I would advise, however, that the best way of avoiding accidental child poisoning is to ensure that all medicines are kept out of reach of children.