Regulatory consulting group Chemular has introduced Safeguard Mark I, a child-resistant packaging system for nicotine pouch products.
The patent-pending platform is intended to allow manufacturers to convert nicotine pouch packs into child-resistant closure (CRC)-compliant formats without altering current production equipment or affecting premarket tobacco product application (PMTAs) already under review by the FDA.
Chemular described the system as a “universal platform” aimed at a technical issue in the nicotine pouch sector: adding child-resistant features without changing the container itself.
The company said this has been a central issue for both regulators and manufacturers, particularly where businesses are seeking to avoid changes that could affect earlier regulatory work.
Chemular added that Safeguard Mark I is designed to function as an external part that can be adapted for use with a wide range of nicotine pouch cans.
The transparent outer design is designed to help existing labels, branding and UPC barcodes remain visible, while limiting the need for changes to current artwork.
Safeguard general manager Sam Benaim said: "Safeguard was designed for simple integration. Implementation requires only a single Safeguard application station, making it practical to support multiple can formats and product lines while helping manufacturers bring child-resistant packaging to market more quickly with minimal operational disruption."
Chemular said the system is intended to reduce redevelopment work, capital spending, production disruption and risks linked to PMTA submissions that are already before the FDA.
The intellectual property restrictions have also narrowed the range of CRC options available to manufacturers.
Safeguard uses a spring-based locking mechanism intended to provide child resistance while allowing adult use.
The company is in discussions with brands and manufacturers assessing the system for current and future nicotine pouch products.
Chemular chief commercial officer Jason Carignan said: "Through our work supporting product development and PMTAs across the industry, we've seen how significant that challenge can be. Safeguard was developed to give manufacturers a fundamentally different option, one that builds on the products and systems they already have in place, saving them time and money."
