News

The use of Braille labels in pharmaceutical packaging could stimulate interest in other industries, according to an expert in the field.

UK Braille dot height recommendations  could be published shortly after the British Standards Institute (BSI) Braille advisory committee meets on 10 April.

Ditone Labels sales manager John Howarth, a Braille advisor to the BSI, said Braille labelling was a “growth area” and interest was spreading to sectors such as the veterinary industry.

But he said it could be “an expensive exercise” to roll out Braille labelling for the 22,000 Braille readers in the UK.

European legislation says Braille is required on all pharmaceutical products licensed after 31 October 2005.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind wants all hazardous products and those with a best-before date to carry this information in Braille.

“We’d also like to see more products with information in clear large print,” said RNIB campaigns officer Julianne Marriott.