Maintaining high standards amid cost pressures and the need for sterile barrier system makers to become involved early in the development process are among the emerging challenges facing the medical packaging industry in coming years, David Harding, director general of the United Kingdom-based Sterile Barrier Association, writes in European Medical Device Technology.

"A common and understandable approach is to seek lower-cost alternative products. In the case of sterile barriers, however, it is imperative that any replacement or alternative is fit for purpose and meets all of the quality requirements necessary to help protect patients and users from infection," Harding writes.

"Risks are high if alternatives come from unknown sources--especially for products that are not intended or designed for medical applications."

Read the full EMDT story here.

Chris Newmarker is senior editor of Qmed and MPMN. Follow him on Twitter at @newmarker.

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