Are Mylar Bags Child-Resistant? What You Need to Know

Mylar bags are widely used in the UK for food and other products that need protection from moisture and contamination. Some brands invest in these pouches just because of their child-resistant nature. There is a strong misconception that a durable Mylar bag is automatically child-resistant. You have to consider several factors that are considered such as:

• Packaging system
• Including its closure
• Construction
• Opening mechanism
• Validated performance

If you are running a business of hazardous substances or medicines in the UK, the above-mentioned factors are extremely important. Even any product that creates a safety risk must be packed in child-resistant Mylar bags. 

What Makes a Mylar Bag Child-Resistant?

Mylar is a generic term for a polyester film that is used as part of a flexible laminate. It has good mechanical strength and barrier protection, but the material strength is not child-resistant. A standard heat-resistant Mylar bag can be difficult for a child to open, but it still cannot be consider child resistant.

A perfectly designed child-resistant Mylar bag is manufactured around an opening mechanism. This restricts young kids from opening the pouches. This means a special closure or locking mechanism that is tested for its child-resistant nature and is not just a marketing claim.

Are Mylar Bags Child Resistant by Default?

No! Mylar bags that are restricted for child opening must be manufactured and tested in a specific way. A typical resealable Mylar bag may include:

• High barrier protection
• Tear resistance
• Moisture protection
• Oxygen resistance
• Light protection
• Resealable storage

None of these properties provides evidence of child-resistance alone. This becomes especially important when ordering packaging online. When a supplier calls a pouch “child-safe,” “child-resistant,” or common CR lingo, some buyers may be quick to rely on the description. However, buyers must check for supporting documentation. With regulated applications, a more pertinent question is not whether or not a child could get the pouch open. The question is whether the finished mylar bag has been tested against the requisite standard.

How Child-Resistant Closures Work

Child-resistant packaging’s design revolves around a central safety idea:

• Keep young children from entering (which is ‘child-proofing ’)
• Allowing most adults to use (‘adult use’)

In the case of flexible pouches, we can either incorporate this mechanism into a closure instead of having it dependent on the Mylar film. Specifications of such bags include coordinated use with a locking profile or opening system. This distinguishes normal custom heat seal Mylar bags from child-resistant zipper Mylar bags.

A regular zipper is used to prevent an accidental opening. Child-resistant stand-up pouches with zippers are designed and tested for their ability to withstand opening by children. UK medicines guidance is clear that even changes to packaging components can impact child-resistant properties. The exact child-resistant ability of the bags depends on:

• Zipper
• Laminate
• Adhesive
• Dimensions
• Closure geometry
• Manufacturing process changes

What Are the UK Child-Resistant Packaging Requirements?

In the UK, child-resistant packaging requirements are product-specific. There is no blanket law that every Mylar bag sold in the UK should be child-resistant. When it comes to medicines, the manufacturer’s requirements can be specific. The MHRA also states that medicines containing aspirin, paracetamol or more than 24 mg of elemental iron should be packaged in child-resistant packaging unless a relevant exemption applies. BS EN ISO 8317 for reclosable packaging and BS EN 14375 for non-reclosable packaging must be considered.

Based on classification and chemical structure, some implementations will have child-resistant packaging associated with hazardous chemical substances. Under relevant classification and labelling regulations, some chemical products intended for sale must be packaged in child-resistant closures or fastenings as per HSENI 2014. That is why businesses must determine the regulatory category of the product before deciding on packaging.

What Does Child-Resistant Certification Mean?

Certification is one of the most important purchasing criteria. Do not confuse child-resistant packaging certification with a broad-based claim that a pouch is robust and tamperproof. Testable outcomes should be assessed against the standard applicable to the total packaging system. ISO 8317 is especially relevant for reclosable packaging. UK government guidance has specified BS EN ISO 8317 as the relevant standard for reclosable child-resistant packaging that is used for medicines. When evaluating a supplier, request the following:

• Test documentation
• Applicable standard
• Laboratory details
• Tested pouch configuration
• Closure specification
• Material construction
• Testing date
• Product identification

It documents whether the design you were testing actually matches what is on the package you plan to buy. Do not automatically interpret a certificate for one closure or pouch configuration to be evidence that the same performance will occur with all sizes and material combinations or closure variants.

What About Cannabis Packaging in the UK?

Before you order child-resistant mylar bags for cannabis. First, figure out whether your product and market are legal. Controlled cannabinoids, i.e., cannabis, are governed by UK controlled-drug legislation. Suitable packaging criteria should never be viewed separately from the legality of such products. The principle is similar for legal products in regulated markets. When a product claims to be child-resistant with regard to its packaging, there should be relevant supporting evidence.

A generic Mylar pouch should not be considered compliant simply because it has a zipper or thick film. Where cannabis products are legally marketed, businesses may face competing requirements for child-resistant packaging. Such as:

• Labelling
• Tamper evidence
• Product identification
• Warnings

Child-Resistant vs. Tamper-Evident Packaging

There is a misconception between these two terms. The purpose of a child-resistant mylar bag packaging is to make opening difficult for small children. On the other hand, tamper-evident packaging aims to show that a package has been opened or tampered with. The presence of one feature does not mean you have the other by default.

A child-resistant closure may present an extra hurdle to limit access but without clear evidence of tampering. Companies will require either one feature depending on the product or modular support for both.

How to Choose a Suitable Pouch

At the time of pouch selection, make sure to consider the requirements of your product and not the features of the pouch. Make sure to keep in mind the specifications mentioned in the table:

This closure specifically deserves attention because the pouch body and closure are a system. Sensitive contents may require a high-barrier laminate for protection, while the closure ensures access control. The final packaging specification for a combination product should be a compromise between required levels of barrier performance and mechanical strength.

What Should UK Buyers Ask Their Supplier?

If you are looking to buy child-resistant Mylar bags, then you should ask your supplier certain questions. So that you can get the best bags without wasting your money.

• Have you tested the pouch for child resistance?
• Which standard do you use to call a bag child-resistant?
• Have you tested all aspects of the pouches?
• Can you give me valid test information that you have performed?
• Does the certification cover this exact size?
  What happens if the closure changes?

Final Takeaway

The UK child-resistant packaging requirements vary based on the product types. Their barrier properties and durability; all can be effective. But we still cannot say that the bags are child-resistant. There are certain criteria that you must follow in order to get a child-resistant pouch. So if you are going to purchase a package, ask your manufacturer to give you clear specifications. In this regard, Mylar Bag Maker can be the best option. We offer free design consultation so you can order bags that are perfectly child-resistant and durable.