Glass particles in sealed jars were among the 30 quality defects found in medicines available in the State last year, according to the Irish Medicines Board (IMB).
In its annual report the board said glass particles were found in a number of sealed containers of a medicine that has to be injected.
The IMB has referred the matter to the regulatory medicines authority in the county where the product is manufactured.
In a separate incident the IMB instructed that a formulation syrup for children be recalled because a faulty cap on the bottles rendering the bottle non-closable after initial use.
The product packaged with the defective cap was recalled from the market.
Out of the 30 reported defects in different medicinal products noted by the IMB three were found to be unjustified, one was recorded as being a critical defect, five were major defects and 21 were minor.
The IMB recalled 38 medicinal products for human consumption. It found that packaging errors were the main cause for recalls.
In 2000, the IMB received 37 reports of product defects but it found that 16 were unjustified, five were major and 16 others had minor defects. The board recalled 46 products in 2000.