UK medicine cartons have raised Braille dots embossed directly into the cardboard, usually corresponding to the product name. If there is no outer packaging, it must be on the immediate packaging. This applies to medicines supplied in the UK, including prescription and non-prescription medicines.
The non-prescription Savlon disinfectant is among few products that use blind-friendly Braille labels or tactile markings on their packaging to improve accessibility for the visually impaired. While a general Braille requirement comparable to the UK's has not been adopted, Indian medicine packaging carries several other regulatory signals that many consumers probably never notice.
1. Red prescription warnings are a distinctive packaging feature
Certain medicines have highly visible red warnings mandated by the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.
For example, Schedule H1 medicines must carry the red Rx symbol and a warning in a red-bordered box stating that the medicine is dangerous to take except according to medical advice and cannot be sold retail without a prescription.
Schedule X medicines have an even more restrictive XRx marking and red warning box.
There is also a Schedule G warning: "It is dangerous to take this preparation except under medical supervision."
This too must appear in a red rectangular box.
2. QR codes
Indian regulations require QR codes/barcodes for specified pharmaceutical products for authentication and tracking.
The current Drugs Rules provide for manufacturers of specified Schedule H2 formulation products to print or affix a barcode or QR code on the primary packaging, or on the secondary package where there isn't enough space. The information is intended to be readable by software for authentication.
For APIs, the requirements are even more extensive: the QR code at each level of packaging is required to contain information such as:
unique product identification code
- API name
- brand name, if applicable
- manufacturer
- batch number
- batch size
- manufacturing date
- expiry/retest date
- serial shipping container code
- manufacturing/import licence number
- special storage conditions
That makes pharmaceutical packaging increasingly a machine-readable data carrier, rather than merely a printed label.
3. Ayurvedic medicines have their own interesting labelling requirements
Indian rules require Ayurvedic/Siddha/Unani medicines to carry information including:
- name of the medicine
- net contents
- manufacturer
- manufacturing licence number
- batch number
- date of manufacture
- identification as an Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani medicine
- "FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY" where applicable
The rules also specify that the name of an Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani drug should correspond to the name in the authoritative books listed in the First Schedule.
That is why you'll often see Indian herbal/Ayurvedic packaging presenting something like:
Yashtimadhu — Glycyrrhiza glabra — Root rather than simply saying "licorice."
The Ministry of AYUSH's E-Charak database itself maps medicinal plants by botanical name, trade name and plant part used. For example, it identifies Glycyrrhiza glabra as Mulathi and the part used as root, while Ocimum sanctum is associated with Tulsi and leaf.
4. "FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY" is itself a regulated packaging instruction
For conventional medicines, Indian rules specifically require external-use preparations such as certain lotions, liniments and creams to carry:
FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY
on the container.
It is a small detail, but it is an example of packaging being used as a safety control, rather than merely marketing.
5. Pack sizes are regulated for certain medicines
Schedule X drugs have prescribed maximum retail pack sizes under the Drugs Rules:
- tablets/capsules: 100 unit doses
- oral liquids: 300 ml
- injections: 5 ml
subject to the hospital/dispensary provisions in the rules.
co-written with ChatGPT