5.1 Medication errors by users sometimes occur due to difficulty in reading or understanding drug container labels. The objective of this specification is to facilitate correct drug product identification. It does not absolve the user from the duty to read the label and correctly identify the drug product prior to use.

This specification covers the requirements for labels used for small-volume parenteral drug containers, in particular, the orientation, the size of type used, and the contrast of the copy with the label background on immediate drug containers. The label shall contain the proprietary name of the drug (optional), established or generic name of the drug (required), amount of drug per unit, and, for liquids, the total volume of the contents-all of which shall be printed in conformity with the type size (as large as possible), orientation (parallel to the long axis of the container), and legibility (provide contrast between the type used for proprietary and established names of the drug and amount of drug per unit, and avoid the use of pastel shades for label background) requirements. Legibility test shall be performed to assess the conformance of the label with the requirements specified.