Business

Importer of pharmaceutical products Chemilines has introduced Braille labelling to the packaging of all its new products after assistance from Ditone Labels.

Chemilines’ regulatory affairs manager Dr David Guest said: “We have found it very easy to reach the requirements because Ditone had a product available that already met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) standard.

“It was important that our flow of product licences wasn’t interrupted and the groundwork done by Ditone meant the introduction of the Braille labelling was a painless process. Some label suppliers have tried to emboss existing products with Braille coding, but these have not been approved by the MHRA.”

European legislation makes Braille labelling on pharmaceutical packaging mandatory for all product licences approved after October 31, 2005. A working party has been set up by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to produce a British Standard for Braille on pharmaceutical packaging.

Ditone’s area sales manager John Haworth is a member of this group, which includes pharmaceutical companies, carton and label suppliers, trade associations and consumer groups, such as the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Ian Wright, managing director of Ditone said: “Having a member of our team on the BSI working party shows our commitment to developing this product and our pharmaceutical accreditation.”

Braille on pharmaceutical packaging has to be a minimum of seven point.


Braille factfile
- Only secondary packaging must feature Braille
- Contracted formats cannot be used
- The EC recommends the Marburg Medium font
- Herbal medicine packs must feature Braille
- Dosage strength must be specified