Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) Practice Exam

Which federal agency mandates child-resistant packaging for most prescription medications?

1. FDA

2. DEA

3. CDC

4. OSHA

The correct answer is: FDA

The federal agency that mandates child-resistant packaging for most prescription medications is the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA's regulations on child-resistant packaging stem from the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, which aims to reduce the risk of children ingesting potentially harmful substances by requiring that certain medications be packaged in containers that are challenging for young children to open. This regulation is based on a thorough assessment of safety and consumer protection. It ensures that medications are secured in a way that can significantly decrease the likelihood of accidental poisoning in young children, who may find traditional packaging easier to open. While the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) all play significant roles in public health and safety, their areas of focus do not include the regulation of medication packaging in the way that the FDA's regulations do. The DEA primarily regulates controlled substances, the CDC is concerned with infectious disease control and prevention, and OSHA regulates workplace safety.