Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products
Pharmaceutical manufacturers use blister packs (plastic-aluminium laminates), child-resistant closures, printed cardboard cartons, and patient information leaflets. Regulatory requirements often dictate minimum packaging specifications, but EPR obligations still apply. The high proportion of multi-material packaging such as blister packs increases complexity in EPR data reporting.
Common Packaging Types
EPR Questions for SIC 21.10
Does SIC code 21.10 have EPR obligations?
Yes. Businesses operating under SIC code 21.10 (Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products) are subject to UK EPR packaging regulations if they meet the turnover threshold (annual turnover exceeding £1 million) and tonnage threshold (handling more than 25 tonnes of packaging per year). Both thresholds must be met.
What packaging do manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products businesses need to report?
Common packaging types include: Blister packs (plastic-foil laminate), Cardboard cartons, Patient information leaflets, Glass vials, Child-resistant caps. All primary, secondary, and transit packaging must be tracked by material type and weight, then reported to DEFRA via the RPD portal.
How much packaging does a typical business in this sector handle?
Typical SMEs in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products sector handle approximately 3-25 tonnes of packaging per year. This varies based on business size, product range, and supply chain complexity. Use our compliance checker for a personalised assessment.
EPR compliance for manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products
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