British Approved Names
A British Approved Name (BAN) is the official non-proprietary name (also known as a generic name) given to a pharmaceutical substance for use in the UK. BANs are short, distinctive names for substances where the systematic chemical or other scientific names are too complex for convenient use.
BANs are devised or selected by the British Pharmacopoeia Commission (BPC) and published by the Health Minister on the recommendation of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) in accordance with section 100 of the Medicines Act 1968. BANs are adopted where required for those substances that are subject of a British Pharmacopoeia monograph and for products with a UK marketing authorisation. Where possible the BAN is harmonised with the recommended International Nonproprietary Name (rINN). Where a rINN cannot be assigned to a medicinal product a BAN may be assigned for use in the UK.
Download BAN application form in Word format.
Download BAN application form in pdf format.
British Approved Names 2012 Publication
British Approved Names 2012 (BAN 2012) publication, with an effective date of 1st January 2012, is now available to purchase from The Stationery Office.
BAN 2012 provides the following specific information about each pharmaceutical substance:
- official non-proprietary name;
- pronunciation guide;
- the systematic chemical name;
- molecular formula;
- molecular structure;
- CAS registry number;
- pharmacological action / medicinal use;
Key features also included with the BAN 2012 publication are guidelines for the construction of pharmaceutical trademarks (also known as invented names) and a guide to the systematic chemical nomenclature system.
The BAN 2012 publication is an essential reference resource for those working on producing technical pharmaceutical documentation, including those in regulatory affairs. It helps to ensure compliance with non-proprietary names and consistency of systematic chemical names. It is an important reference material for anyone involved in the pharmaceutical industry to verify molecular and graphic formulas and to ascertain the correct pronunciation of names.
Supplements to the British Approved Names 2007 Publication
Supplements to the BAN 2007 publication are listed below.
- BAN 2007, Supplement No. 1 is available from The Stationery Office (external link), with an effective data of 1st January 2008.
- BAN 2007, Supplement No. 2 is available from The Stationery Office (external link), with an effective data of 1st January 2009.
- BAN 2007, Supplement No.3 is available from The Stationery Office (external link), with an effective data of 1st January 2010.