Our experts can develop testing around your product and application, helping you assess functional performance, resistance to environmental and distribution conditions, and evidence of attempted tampering across a wide range of tamper-evident mechanisms.
What is tamper-evident packaging?
Tamper-evident packaging is designed to deter unauthorised opening or interference and provide visible evidence when tampering has occurred. It can help protect products and maintain security from manufacture through distribution to the end user.
For pharmaceuticals and medical devices, tamper-evident packaging is referenced in regulations and standards including:
- Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD).
- ISO Standard 21976:2018 covering tamper verification features for medicinal product packaging.
- FDA Tamper-Evident Packaging for OTC Drugs: Ensuring Safety and Integrity (21 CFR Part 211 Subpart G)
Tamper-evident features we test include
Breakable seals, induction seals, adhesive label seals, shrink bands, tape seals, void labels, blister packs, tamper-evident caps, secure envelopes.
Smithers tamper-evident packaging assessments
Smithers can evaluate individual packs, components and materials through to complete palletised loads in simulated transport conditions. Testing can be tailored to the packaging system, application and risks involved, and may include:
- Test plan development: Development of a programme appropriate to your product and application, combining standard test methods with bespoke testing or specialist anti-tamper assessments where required.
- Physical, functional and integrity testing: Including opening force or torque, adhesion strength, puncture resistance, seal strength and tear strength.
- Environmental resistance: Evaluation of tamper-evident mechanisms under different temperature and humidity conditions.
- Custom anti-tamper assessments: Controlled, repeatable assessment of attempts to bypass or compromise a security feature. This can be particularly relevant where the contents are valuable, sensitive or secure, including bank cards and PIN mailers, passports and identity documents, anti-doping canisters, and medical samples.
- Transport and handling simulation: Evaluation of complete palletised loads under distribution hazards including vibration, shock and drops.
- Expert interpretation: Support understanding results, investigating performance issues and identifying appropriate next steps where required.
Talk to our experts
Smithers combines packaging testing expertise with standard and bespoke assessment methods to support new product development, packaging evaluation, troubleshooting and regulatory programmes.
Talk to our experts about your tamper-evident packaging, security feature or performance requirements.
