The Current Condition of the Pharmaceutical Aluminum Tube Packaging Industry in China

The aluminum packaging tube is an internationally-used packaging container with non-toxic, colorless, and odorless properties. It can be seen everywhere in our life. From the toothpaste we use daily, to the ointments that we use to treat wounds, to the glue that we use to mend things, to the hair dye we use to make ourselves more attractive looking, to the oil paints that artists use, all these commodities and dozens more come conveniently stored inside aluminum tubes.

The standards for the production of medicinal aluminum tubes are all listed within Chinese national standard YBB00162002-2015. The production of pharmaceutical aluminum tubes within the Chinese pharmaceutical packaging industry must not only adhere to strict production standards but also environmental regulations, as well. One publication – GB 50457-2019 “Design Standards for Clean Plants in the Pharmaceutical Industry” is published by the drug regulatory agency SFDA (State Food and Drug Administration), which is in charge of the supervision of domestic production facilities.  Production standards are set by the relevant departments of the National Standardization Administration and are approved and issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, and by the National Standardization Administration.

YBB has replaced the previous three-level standard of countries, industries, and enterprises and has raised the requirements in terms of product material, shape, and stability. The new standards were issued to physically strengthen the packaging materials and containers that are in direct contact with medicines. To supervise, promote, and improve the standardization work is the most fundamental goal of pharmaceutical packaging materials managers. National standards, often referred to as GB, are approved and promulgated by the national standardization authority and are of considerable significance to both the economic and technological development and production uniformity throughout the country. The 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia also includes the specifications of the pharmaceutical packaging material industry within the four general rules.