In addition to agreeing alphabets, numbers, symbols and abbreviations across blindness organisations throughout Europe the following information gives practical guidance on how to deal with the aspects covered and issues such as accented characters hyphens and Roman numerals.<\/p>\n
The EBU have used every effort to have these principles agreed by as many blindness organisations across Europe as possible but can not insist on unity on all aspects by all countries.<\/p>\n
If there is any doubt please contact the representing blindness organisation of that country for clarification. You can use our International Blindness Agencies Directory<\/a> to help identify the correct organisation.<\/p>\n If you cannot see the Braille displayed in the table below you do not have a suitable braille font installed on your computer. Please sign up and download our FREE braille font:<\/p>\n Free Braille Font and Tools<\/a><\/p>\n The EU\u00a0Council Directive 2004\/27\/EC – Article 56(a)<\/p>\n ‘The name of the product, as referred to in Article 54, point (a) must also be expressed in Braille format on the packaging. The MA holder shall ensure that the packaging information leaflet is made available on request from patients’ organisations in formats appropriate for the blind and partially sighted’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The pharmaceutical directive applies to all medicinal products for human use intended to be place on the markets in the Member States. All EU legislation relating to pharmaceutical products is covered under the EEA Agreement and so the EEA areas (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) will also be implementing this directive.<\/p>\n The EU has recommended a braille specification referred to as ‘Marburg Medium<\/a>‘.\u00a0The Braille can not be varied in size in any way.<\/p>\n Grade 1 (uncontracted) Braille is recommended to be used on all packaging to enable the greatest numbers of people to read it. Please see EU Commission Guidance for details.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> All Braille letters will be treated as lower case, without the need for a capitalisation indicator.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> There will be no capitalisation of text. Different capital indicators are used throughout Europe. These take up one cell of space, and are not considered to be essential for understanding the text.<\/p>\n Main Roman Alphabet – Appendix A<\/strong><\/p>\n Proposal<\/strong>: Use main Roman alphabet.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> The letters a- z are in the main common throughout the entire world. There are however 2 exceptions where braille letters are different or non-existent. Latvia = u, v and z plus Hungary = q and z. The letters u and v in Latvian also conflict, but we understand they will accept the Roman Alphabet.<\/p>\n Numbers – Appendix B<\/strong><\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Numbers will be represented as in Charts give where the country accepts EBU<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Although there are a number of different ways to show numbers in braille, all but one country in the E.U. use the letters a \u2013 j, preceded by a braille ‘number sign’ ( a # symbol in print), to represent the numbers 1 \u2013 9 and 0.<\/p>\n NOTE<\/strong>: France is an exception to this rule, and has indicated they wish to adhere to their own numbering convention.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> As with Fractions<\/a>, Decimal (Arabic) numbers are used in place of Roman numbers.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> It is almost impossible for a braille translation program to identify the difference between ‘IV’ as Roman Number four, and ‘IV’ where it could mean ‘intravenous’. Likewise between ‘XL’ as the number forty, or as ‘Extra Large’.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Dot 4 precedes the Roman<\/em><\/strong> letter equivalent to indicate any letter which is accented.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> As braille has developed over many years and countries, accommodation has had to be made in braille codes for accented characters. With only 63 possible permutations of characters possible in braille, less 26 Roman letters, only 37 characters are left to accommodate accented characters and punctuation.<\/p>\n There are at least 30 identified accented characters used throughout Europe. As each country has developed its own braille standards, so the braille character used has varied.<\/p>\n For example the letter \u00e4 (letter a with dieresis) appears as:<\/p>\n \u2808<\/span>\u00a0(dot 4)<\/p>\n in Slovak countries and as<\/p>\n \u281c<\/span> (Dots 345)<\/p>\n elsewhere in the EU.<\/p>\n The proposed solution works as follows, as an example, the letter \u00e4 (letter a with dieresis) would appear as<\/p>\n \u2808\u2801<\/span>\u00a0(dot 4, dot 1)<\/p>\n and the letter \u00e1 (letter a with acute accent) would also appear as<\/p>\n \u2808\u2801<\/span>\u00a0(dot 4, dot 1).<\/p>\n Continuing this example, since there could be six accented forms for the letter a, this may appear potentially confusing the readers. However, there are very few cases where more than one form of an accented character is used in any one language, and therefore end users are unlikely to be confused.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Diphthongs and Ligatures should be represented by the individual characters.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> For the same reasons as accented characters vary when translated in braille, these would therefore be treated as two separate characters. Hence for example \u00e6 would be written as the individual letters a and e.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Numbers are indicated by dots 3456<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> With one exception (France), dots 3456 (\u283c<\/strong>) are used before the letters A – J to represent numbers 1 \u2013 0.<\/p>\n It is not necessary to leave a space between a number and the symbol if the number is followed by a symbol or abbreviation that is not A-J as these are used as numbers and could therefore cause confusion. Also if you have a string of numbers you don’t need to repeat the number sign.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where the letters a \u2013 j immediately follow a number (i.e. unspaced) the letter is preceded by dots 56. Letters k and above would not require a letter sign as they can not be confused for a number.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> There are a number of variations of how countries indicate letters, although the majority of countries appear to use dots 56 as the letter sign. Some also include this sign for letters above j, or even use a different sign.<\/p>\n To avoid confusion over the understanding of, for example, ‘1a’, being read as either ‘1a’ or as the number 11, the letter sign should be used up to letter k (which represents 0).<\/p>\n Hence the proposal would result in ‘1a’ appearing unambiguously in braille as<\/p>\n \u283c\u2801\u2830\u2801<\/span> (dots 3456, dot 1, and dots 56, dot 1).<\/p>\n Proposed punctuation braille codes appears in EBU<\/a> Braille code December 2005.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where a print<\/em><\/strong> comma (U+002C) is used, regardless of its meaning, dot 2 will be used.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Many EU blindness organisations agree that the print comma is shown as braille dot 2. It should be noted that in Europe this is also used as the decimal point, i.e. 1,5 = One point five.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where a print full stop or period (U+002E) is used, regardless of its meaning, dot 3 will be used.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Although 11 out of 19 blindness organisations indicate the use of dots 256, which is the print full stop, and some countries such as Slovakia use dot 3 to represent the Apostrophe, The proposal is to use dot 3 is generally accepted and works consistently within this set of proposals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where a semi<\/em><\/strong>-colon is used (U+003B) it is represented by dots 23.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Many EU blindness organisations agree that the semi-colon (;) is dots 23.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where a colon is used (U+003A) it is represented by dots 25.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Many EU blindness organisations agree that the colon (:) is dots 25<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use dots 2356 for both opening and closing parenthesis.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Unfortunately there is a mix here from various countries with the majority (13 out of 23) using the proposed cell so we have gone with the majority.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use dots 34 to represent the forward slash\/solidus.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Again there are various forms in use but we have tried to be practical.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use dots 36 to represent a hyphen.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> All replies so far indicate the use of dots 36.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> This sign should not be used, use the dash\/hyphen instead.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> since the long dash or hyphen generally only has meaning in literary terms, this proposal is to use the standard hyphen instead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘pc’<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> There are 9 variations in use in the 23 countries for which information is available. Clearly trying to reach agreement for the actual print Per Cent (%) would be a major exercise. The EBU Braille code recommends the use of ‘pc’ however if a country is not prepared to except this you should check how the symbol should be presented or if you can use the local abbreviation. Hence ‘pc’ in many countries, but for example ‘pz’ (prozent) in Germany.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘pm’<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> The EBU Braille code recommends the use of ‘pm’ however we are suggesting that organisations check if a country is not prepared to except this you should check how the symbol should be presented or if you can use the local abbreviation. e.g. ‘pm’ for ‘Per Mille’.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Fractions should be expressed with a numeral sign, number, forward slash, number to closely represent the print<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong>. There are various methods in use. Some countries use the upper cell for the numerator and the lower cell for the denominator. In some countries this convention is reversed. Others separate the two parts of the fraction with a Solidus (Forward Slash). Even in print there are different ways of presenting fractions, e.g. ‘three-quarters’, ‘3\/4’ or ‘\u00be’ (U+00BE).<\/p>\n It is proposed that fractions are expressed as closely to the print as they can be (users will need to be informed of this rule in particular as it may vary significantly from their local braille rule).<\/p>\n For example, the fraction three-quarters, ‘3\/4’ or ‘\u00be’ (U+00BE) would be written as: \u283c\u2809\u280c\u2819<\/span> (dots 3456, dots 14, dots 34, dots 145).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A list of proposed braille codes for Units of Measure appears in EBU Braille Code<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Grams are represented by the letter g spaced from the preceding number.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> General agreement here \u2013 letter g \u2013 except Germany who prefix letter with dot 6.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘mg’<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> One exception to the suggested ‘mg’ is Poland.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘mcg’.<\/p>\n Rationale: General variation here. The suggestion is ‘mcg’, but in some countries it is ‘mkg’.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Litres are represented by the letter l spaced from the preceding number.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> General agreement here \u2013 letter l \u2013 except Germany who prefix letter with dot 6.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘dl’.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> General agreement here for the proposed ‘dl’.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Use the letters of the local print abbreviation, e.g. ‘ml’.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> General agreement here for the proposed ‘ml’.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Trade \u2122(U+2122) & Registered \u00ae (U+00AE) Marks should not be included.<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> These are not considered necessary for drug identification, and would use additional space.<\/p>\n Some additional abbreviations have been requested by the pharmaceutical industry as follows. The proposed braille code is contained in EBU<\/a> Braille Code, and listed below.<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> The EBU Braille code gives the abbreviation that has been agreed by some EU countries. Alternatively, use the letters of the local print abbreviation.<\/p>\n i. e. \u00a0Internationale Einheiten: show as ‘ie’<\/p>\n i. m. \u00a0intra muscular: show as ‘im’<\/p>\n i. v. \u00a0intravenous, show as ‘iv’<\/p>\n MIU \u00a0million international units: show as ‘miu’<\/p>\n s. c. \u00a0subcutaneous: show as ‘sc’<\/p>\n SR \u00a0sustained relief: show as ‘sr’<\/p>\n U. I. \u00a0Unites Internationales: show as ‘ui’<\/p>\n Proposal:<\/strong> Where names include consecutive mixed letters and numbers \u2013 for example ‘S1NGULAIR’ or ‘Plasma-Lyte 56d5’ you should use braille that gives the print meaning<\/p>\n Rationale:<\/strong> Need to convey print meaning. May have to use read me as a letter sign or read me as a number sign.<\/p>\n Countries were asked whether they would agree to follow the EBU guidance proposed. At that time we did not ask about accented characters.\u00a0 As further countries confirm their position with us, this table will be updated.<\/p>\nWhat does the Directive say<\/h2>\n
General Comments<\/h2>\n
Capitalisation<\/h2>\n
Main Roman Alphabet – Appendix A<\/h2>\n
Numbers – Appendix B<\/h2>\n
Roman Numerals<\/h2>\n
Accented characters – Appendix C<\/h2>\n
Diphthongs and Ligatures<\/h2>\n
Number Sign<\/h2>\n
Letter Sign<\/h2>\n
Punctuation – Appendix D<\/h2>\n
Comma, (thousands separator- UK only), decimal point<\/h3>\n
Full stop\/period, thousands separator<\/h3>\n
Semi-colon<\/h3>\n
Colon<\/h3>\n
Any character(s) in parenthesis<\/h3>\n
Forward slash or solidus<\/h3>\n
Dash\/hyphen<\/h3>\n
Long dash or hyphen<\/h3>\n
Per cent<\/h3>\n
Per mille<\/h3>\n
Fractions e.g. \u00be<\/h3>\n
\nnumber sign, three, forward slash, four<\/p>\nUnits of Measure<\/h2>\n
Grams<\/h3>\n
Milligrams<\/h3>\n
Micrograms or ‘\u00b5g’<\/h3>\n
Litres<\/h3>\n
Decilitres<\/h3>\n
Millilitres<\/h3>\n
Trade \u00ae & Registered \u2122 Marks<\/h2>\n
Abbreviations<\/h2>\n
Mixed use of letters and numbers<\/h2>\n
Summary of Results<\/h2>\n