1) Introduction:
Packaging can be defined as an economical means of providing presentation, protection, identification information, containment, convenience and compliance for a product during storage, carriage, display and until the product is consumed. Packaging must provide protection against climatic conditions biological, physical and chemical hazards and must be economical. The package must ensure adequate stability of the product throughout the shelf life.1

The external image of the package must not only compliment product confidence, but provide clear and concise product identification and other features included are:

· Package should provide adequate information related to the contents including legal requirements, route of administration, storage conditions, batch number, expiry date, manufactures name and address and product license number.

· Package should assist in patient compliance.

· Package should preferably have an aesthetically acceptable design.

The primary packaging consist of those packaging components which have a direct contact with the product (i.e. bottle, cap, cap liner, label etc). The main functions of the primary package are to contain and to restrict any chemical, climatic or biological or occasionally mechanical hazards that may cause or lead to product deterioration. Packaging must also function as a means of drug administrations.

The packaging external to the primary package is known as the secondary packaging. The secondary packaging mainly provides the additional physical protection necessary to endure the safe warehousing and for refill packaging.

TABLE:1.1

1.1-Types of container used as primary packaging for liquid orals are:

Single dose containershold the product that are intended for single use. An example of such a container is the glass ampoule.
Multi-dose containers hold a quantity of the material that will be used as two or more doses. An example of this system is the multiple doses vial or the plastic tablet bottle.
Well–closed containers protect the product from contamination with unwanted foreign materials and form loss of contents during use.
Airtight containers are impermeable to solids, liquids and gases during normal storage and use. If the container is to be opened on more than one occasion it must remain airtight after re closure.
Light – resistant container protect the contents from the effect of radiation at a wave length between 290nm and 150nm.