diff --git a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/basic/dto/ManagedInputWidgetDescription.java b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/basic/dto/ManagedInputWidgetDescription.java
index 9eb0400a2c5ffce567690e89b335fa8f8fcf08e5..c04d99dd1aafc4c6f9bac09285fee2b3751a2ace 100644
--- a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/basic/dto/ManagedInputWidgetDescription.java
+++ b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/basic/dto/ManagedInputWidgetDescription.java
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 package ch.systemsx.cisd.openbis.generic.shared.basic.dto;
 
-import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
-
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.openbis.generic.shared.basic.dto.api.IManagedInputWidgetDescription;
 
 /**
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ public abstract class ManagedInputWidgetDescription implements IManagedInputWidg
 
     public void setCode(String code)
     {
-        if (StringUtils.isBlank(code))
+        if (isBlank(code))
         {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Code is null or a blank string.");
         }
@@ -64,7 +62,7 @@ public abstract class ManagedInputWidgetDescription implements IManagedInputWidg
 
     public void setLabel(String label)
     {
-        if (StringUtils.isBlank(label))
+        if (isBlank(label))
         {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Label is null or a blank string.");
         }
@@ -75,6 +73,11 @@ public abstract class ManagedInputWidgetDescription implements IManagedInputWidg
         }
     }
 
+    private boolean isBlank(String string)
+    {
+        return string == null || string.trim().length() == 0;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String getValue()
     {