Labour MEP Catherine Stihler, who said she was responding to concerns from Scottish public health workers, has also approached the European Commission to seek clarification of EU requirements for patient information leaflets in medicine packs and to discover if there are any requirements for manufacturers to translate dosage instructions in to all EU languages.

She said: “There is an increasing need in Scotland for written information in languages such as Romanian, Polish or Slovak – and if we fail to provide such information we will surely be creating added health inequality.

“I would like to see all Scottish public health workers confident that they [have] key information such as dosage and ingredients in the appropriate language – reducing the likelihood of overdose or allergic reaction.”