AS 1079.

1—1993

Australian Standard
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Packaging of items (sterile) for

patient care

Part 1: Selection of packaging

materials for goods undergoing
sterilization
 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee PK/18, Packaging of Sterile
Goods. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on
4 August 1993 and published on 15 November 1993.

The following interests are represented on Committee PK/18:

Appita
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Australian Institute of Packaging

Commercial Services Group, N.S.W.
Department of Health, Housing and Community Services (Commonwealth)
Health Department, W.A.
Medical Industry Association of Australia
National Council of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries
Packaging Council of Australia
Plastics Industry Association
Queensland Health
South Australian Health Commission
Sterilizing Research and Advisory Council of Australia (N.S.W. Branch)

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 89108.

 AS 1079.1—1993

Australian Standard
This is a free 5 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Packaging of items (sterile) for

patient care

Part 1: Selection of packaging

materials for goods undergoing
sterilization

First publi shed as AS 1079— 1971.

Revised and redesignated AS 1079.1 — 1981.
Second editi on 1993.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 8479 3
 AS 1079.1 — 1993 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Packaging of Sterile
Goods under the direction of the Joint Multitechnics Standards Policy Board to supersede
AS 1079.1—1981, Packaging of items (sterile) for patient care, Part 1: Guide to selection
of packaging materials for goods undergoing sterilization .
This Standard is one of the AS 1079 series, which deals with packaging of items (sterile)
for patient care. The other Standards in the series are as follows:
Part 2: Non-reusable papers—For the wrapping of goods undergoing sterilization in
health care facilities
Part 3: Paper bags—For single use in health care facilities
Part 4: Flexible packaging systems—For single-use in hospitals
Non-reusable, non-woven wrapping materials—For goods undergoing
sterilization in health care facilities.*
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In the preparation of this Standard, the Committee was conscious of growing

environmental concerns about the disposal of packaging materials. Aspects such as
recycling or disposal of the packaging materials after use are becoming more of an issue in
the selection of such materials.
This Standard differs principally from the 1981 edition in the following respects:
(a) Requirements for packaging material for use with the chosen method of sterilization
are now included.
(b) There is more emphasis on the packaging design.

* In course of preparation

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 3 AS 1079.1 — 1993

CONTENTS

Page

1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PACKAGING MATERIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PACKAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 REQUIREMENTS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS AND PACKAGES FOR
SPECIFIC STERILIZATION PROCESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
7 REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
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AS 1079.1-1993, Packaging of items (sterile) for

patient care Selection of packaging materials for
goods undergoing sterilization
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