Late last year, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (www.ispe.org) introduced a new packaging Community of Practice (COP). The COP held its first meeting at ISPE's annual meeting in Orlando, FL. Chairing the packaging COP's Steering Committee is Linda McBride, senior director of regulatory affairs for Leawood, KS-based medical firm Enturia, Inc. (formerly Medi-Flex). McBride is a former columnist for Healthcare Packaging.
A key focus for the packaging COP is a new Packaging. Labeling,and Warehousing Operations (PACLAW) Baseline® Guide. The PACLAW guide discusses coding, reading, and tracking systems, as well as current European and North American regulatory drivers that have an impact on packaging, labeling, and ware-housing.
ISPE is a global not-for-profit society with more than 23,000 pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals in 81 countries. Several COPs function within ISPE. The society's Web site says the COPs "are being developed by like-minded practitioners with the desire to become actively involved under their own volition to address emerging industry trends." [HCP]
