Provided are an apparatus and method of printing a machine-readable code for labeling a medicinal substance. The method includes encoding at least an identification of the medicinal substance in a machine-readable format, and selecting a template establishing an appropriate layout of a label on which the identification is to be applied in the machine-readable format. The label is to be applied to a container for storing the medicinal substance to be administered to a patient. Label content including the identification in the machine -readable format is arranged to be applied to the label in the appropriate layout according to the template, and the label content is output in the appropriate layout to be printed onto the label.