BNF Code Information - Historic - BNF_CODE_HISTORIC_2020_VERSION_78 - Open Data Portal

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Alert 29 August 2025

Deployment completed.

The follow-up deployment on the NHSBSA Open Data Portal has now been completed. This release addresses outstanding actions from the previous update and delivers improvements as detailed in this news article.

If you encounter any issues or require support, please contact us at DataServicesSupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

Additional Info

Field	Value
Data last updated	28 March 2025
Metadata last updated	28 March 2025
Created	28 March 2025
Format	text/csv
Licence	Open Government Licence 3.0 (United Kingdom)

Data Dictionary

Column	Title	Type	Description
BNF Chapter	BNF Chapter	string	The name given to a British National Formulary (BNF) chapter. This is the broadest grouping of the BNF therapeutical classification system.
BNF Chapter Code	BNF Chapter Code	number	The unique code used to refer to the BNF Chapter.
BNF Section	BNF Section	string	The name given to a BNF Section. This is the next broadest grouping of the BNF therapeutical classification system after chapter.
BNF Section Code	BNF Section Code	number	The unique code used to refer to the BNF Section.
BNF Paragraph	BNF Paragraph	string	The name given to the BNF Paragraph. This level of grouping of the BNF Therapeutical classification system sits below BNF section.
BNF Paragraph Code	BNF Paragraph Code	number	The unique code used to refer to the BNF Paragraph.
BNF Subparagraph	BNF Subparagraph	string	The name of the BNF Sub-Paragraph, a subdivision of the Paragraph level of the BNF
BNF Subparagraph Code	BNF Subparagraph Code	number	The unique code used to refer to the BNF Sub-Paragraph.
BNF Chemical Substance	BNF Chemical Substance	string	The name given to the BNF Chemical Substance (the main active ingredient in a drug. For example, Amoxicillin).
BNF Chemical Substance Code	BNF Chemical Substance Code	string	A unique code used to refer to a BNF Chemical Substance.
BNF Product	BNF Product	string	The name of the Product (generic or branded) without indication of the strength or formulation.
BNF Product Code	BNF Product Code	string	The unique code used to refer to the BNF Product.
BNF Presentation	BNF Presentation	string	The name given to the BNF Presentation (specific type, strength, and formulation of a drug or the specific type of an appliance. For example, Amoxicillin 500mg capsules).
BNF Presentation Code	BNF Presentation Code	string	The unique code used to refer to a BNF Presentation.