Abstract: A sterilizable package for medical instruments includes bonded first and second sheets of microbe impervious material at least one of which is sufficiently porous to allow the passage of gas therethrough. The first sheet has a flap which is folded over to seal the opening of the pouch. An adhesive sealing tape is bonded to the flap. The sealing tape includes a carrier strip, a first adhesive layer formed from heat seal adhesive and disposed on one side of the carrier strip, and a second adhesive layer formed from pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on an opposite side of the carrier strip. The first adhesive layer forms a heat seal bond between the carrier strip and the first sheet. The sterilizable pouch is resistant to tunneling or rippling of the package material which sometimes occurs during the sterilization process.