抄録
To investigate the description of the expiration date and manufacturing number on the drug packages, “pillow” packages and “heat-seal” packages, the questionnairing was carried out to pharmaceutical companies. Fifty-six drugs consisting of three hundred thirty-seven items, with sales of over 10 billion yen in 1998, were investigated at the corresponding 26 companies. The recovery rate of the questionnaire from the company was 100%, and the answer for all questions was also perfect. Three hundred fourteen items (93%) have had description regarding the manufacturing number and/or the expiration date on the heat-sealed packages. The manufacturing number took precedence over the expiration date. Of 269 pillow packages, 69 items (26%) have had description of manufacturing number and/or expiration date on the pillow package. There were 41 products (12%) that the company did not guarantee an expiration date being described on the box container when the packages were taken out from the box container.
As a result, the description of the manufacturing number and expiration date on the packages, “pillow” and “heat-seal”, is still not complete even though the companies guarantee the expiration date when the drugs were stored with these packages. Since the information of the expiration date is necessary for the appropriate management of tablet and capsule products, it is required to describe manufacturing number and expiration date on every drug package including “pillow” and “heat-seal” packages.
