We will further strengthen the control of excessive commodity packaging, and guide drug manufacturers to optimize the specifications of drug packaging

On September 8, The General Office of the State Council issued a Notice on Further Strengthening the Management of Excessive Packaging of Goods (No.29, 2022), requiring high attention to the management of excessive packaging of goods and strengthening the management of the whole chain of excessive packaging of goods. It clearly proposes to guide medical institutions to propose drug packaging requirements for different scenarios and types such as outpatient, inpatient and chronic diseases. Guide drug manufacturers to optimize drug packaging specifications.

According to the notice, excessive packaging refers to the packaging that exceeds the normal function requirements of commodity protection, display, storage and transportation, mainly manifested as excessive packaging layers, large packaging gaps, high packaging costs, and improper material selection. The requirement takes goods to be taken seriously highly excessive package management works.

The notice proposed to strengthen the whole chain of excessive packaging of goods. From packaging technology, to production, sales, delivery, waste recycling and other aspects of the specific requirements. In particular, the pharmaceutical packaging materials and pharmaceutical enterprises should pay attention to strengthening technological innovation in the field of packaging, preventing excessive packaging in the production process, and strengthening packaging waste recycling and disposal.

In terms of technological innovation in the field of packaging, the notice proposes to promote packaging enterprises to provide comprehensive packaging solutions with reasonable design, material saving, convenient recycling and economic application, independently develop low-weight, high-strength and functional packaging materials and production equipment, and innovate and develop integrated packaging products for commodities and express delivery.

In the production process, the notice requires that commodity producers be guided to use simple packaging, optimize the design of commodity packaging, reduce the number of layers, materials and costs of commodity packaging, reduce the volume and weight of packaging, reduce ink printing, and use single materials or materials that are easy to separate. In particular, it proposed to "guide medical institutions to propose drug packaging requirements for different scenarios and types such as outpatient, inpatient and chronic diseases." Guide drug manufacturers to optimize drug packaging specifications ".

At the same time, the circular also proposed to further improve the recycling system of renewable resources, encourage all regions to introduce professional recycling enterprises through market-oriented investment and other means, and improve the level of packaging waste recycling.

The circular also made clear requirements for strengthening supervision and law enforcement, improving the support and guarantee system, and strengthening organization and implementation.