EBU members have successfully influenced the development of the European Standard for Braille on medicinal products (EN 15823) which was published in European countries in 2010.
More recently, this European Standard formed the basis of a draft international (ISO) Standard for Braille on packaging for medicinal products (ISO/DIS 17351) to which we have also contributed.
This draft International Standard has recently been approved and recommended as an International Standard by the ISO working group (ISO/TC 122/WG 9) in Berlin in September 2012. Once typeset, ISO is likely to publish this International Standard for Braille on packaging for medicinal products in autumn 2013.
The review process included a 5-month international voting period between November 2011 and April 2012, resulting in the draft ISO Standard being unanimously approved by 28 voting countries. The comments received during that voting period were dealt with at the working group meeting by making minor edits to the text and having a few warm discussions to explain the research and decisions made during the development of the European Standard.
This is exciting news as it significantly increases the reach and impact of the European Standard which we were instrumental in setting, which has already improved Braille on medicinal products in Europe. As an International Standard we will now be helping to improve Braille on medicinal product packaging worldwide.
Dr Sarah Morley Wilkins, representing Royal National Institute of Blind People, European Blind Union, the Braille dot height research team, and expert to BSI Working Group.
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