"Cola or Cider"... The Current State of 'Braille Labeling' for the Visually Impaired

There are concerns among visually impaired individuals about the inadequate Braille labeling on beverages. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Voices are emerging that efforts are needed to ensure information accessibility for visually impaired people amid criticisms that braille labeling on food and pharmaceuticals is inadequate. Industry insiders also agree that institutional preparations are necessary, while experts emphasize that more practical considerations for people with disabilities are required.

In March, a post titled "Even if the way of reading is different, the right to choose should be the same. Please protect the right to know for visually impaired consumers" was published on the Blue House's national petition website. It pointed out that many visually impaired people face difficulties purchasing products due to poor braille labeling on food items.

The petitioner, Mr. A, revealed that he even struggles in front of drinks wondering "Is this cola or cider?" He appealed, "The choices visually impaired people can make are only 'carbonated' and 'beverage.' I touch the braille on the cans labeled 'carbonated' and choose every day as if picking a random box."

Looking at the status of food companies, not only is there a problem with poor labeling, but a significant proportion of food products lack braille labeling altogether. In October last year, Kang Sun-woo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that a survey conducted with the cooperation of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Food Industry Association targeting 161 food company members revealed that 154 companies, accounting for 95% of the total, did not provide braille labeling.

There are concerns that the right to choose for visually impaired people, who face difficulties when purchasing products due to poor Braille labeling on groceries, must be guaranteed. [Image source=Pixabay]

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Visually impaired people point out that even the expiration dates on dairy products, where freshness is crucial, have errors or are not labeled in braille, leaving them in an information blind spot.

Lee Yeon-joo, policy team leader of the Korea Blind Union, explained, "There are many packaging designs that are similar or identical, and when these are mixed together, it is impossible to know exactly which product is which. For beverages, it is difficult to know important information such as the expiration date accurately." She added, "The biggest problem is that the product name is not clearly indicated but only the category such as 'carbonated,' 'beverage,' or 'beer' is labeled in braille."

A survey on the actual situation revealed that accessibility to braille information for people with disabilities on daily necessities, including food and beverages, is poor. The Siloam Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities conducted a braille labeling survey from June to August last year on eight companies producing daily necessities including food and beverages. It found that only 17 products from these eight companies had product names labeled in braille. However, among these, nine products except for eight had mismatched product names and braille labels or only the food type such as 'carbonated,' 'beverage,' or 'beer' was labeled in braille.

Furthermore, although braille labeling on pharmaceuticals will be mandatory from July 2024, there are criticisms due to the lack of specific standards for labeling specifications.

Lee said, "First, related laws need to be revised. Then, specific guidelines on which standards to follow must be established." She continued, "From a corporate perspective, although they recognize the necessity of braille labeling, some feel burdened by the increased manufacturing costs of packaging, so financial support for these aspects will be necessary."

Citizens purchasing prescribed medicine at a pharmacy in downtown Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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Concerns about the need for concrete standards were also voiced within the industry. Director B of the pharmaceutical quality assurance team expressed, "If the approved product name itself is long, situations where labeling is difficult may frequently occur." For example, if the product name approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is lengthy, there may be physical difficulties in labeling the entire name in braille.

Another executive, Executive Director C of a pharmaceutical company, pointed out, "There are difficulties in applying braille to some drug packaging such as patch products without external paper cases or liquid glass bottles." He added, "Since braille labeling legislation is mandatory rather than optional, various considerations are needed on how to display braille on pharmaceuticals without external packaging like paper boxes or whether there are ways to simplify it."

In related cases, other countries have mandated braille labeling. The European Union mandated in March 2004 that the product name be labeled in braille on the external packaging of pharmaceuticals, and for pharmaceuticals sold with two or more ingredient contents, the content must also be labeled in braille. The United States, in cooperation with pharmaceutical packaging industry associations and braille organizations, established braille labeling guidelines in May 2009 and has been distributing them to the pharmaceutical packaging industry.

Given this situation, there is also a view that practical welfare for people with disabilities should be institutionalized. A social welfare official emphasized, "For the welfare of people with disabilities, improvements based on specific surveys such as the scope of braille labeling are necessary," and added, "A practical welfare system for people with disabilities must be established."

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