How does the UFI creation and PCN notification service work?
After purchasing this service, you will receive access to the secure portal. This portal contains an overview of all steps. You fill in your product details and we will get to work.
Poison Center Notification & UFI
We will provide:
- Your product’s Unique Formula Identifier (UFI)
- A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) report
- Registration of your product with the relevant national Poison Centres via ECHA.
Countries for PCN registration
You can count the number of countries in which you want to register your product. This is the number of countries you need to purchase. You will be able to select the specific countries within the portal. If you plan to expand the sales of your products to new countries at a later date, then you can always order additional PCN country registrations.
The EU has 27 countries and the EEA has 30 (EU+Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland) In the portal you can select these countries:
| Belgium | (BE) | Spain | (ES) | Hungary | (HU) | Slovakia | (SK) |
| Bulgaria | (BG) | France | (FR) | Malta | (MT) | Finland | (FI) |
| Czechia | (CZ) | Croatia | (HR) | Netherlands | (NL) | Sweden | (SE) |
| Denmark | (DK) | Italy | (IT) | Austria | (AT) | Germany | (DE) |
| Cyprus | (CY) | Poland | (PL) | Iceland | (IS) | Estonia | (EE) |
| Latvia | (LV) | Portugal | (PT) | Liechtenstein | (LI) | Ireland | (IE) |
| Lithuania | (LT) | Romania | (RO) | Norway | (NO) | Greece | (EL) |
| Luxembourg | (LU) | Slovenia | (SI) | Switzerland* | (CH) |
*For Switzerland we can create the PCN dossier, with all the needed information to make a submission in the Swiss portal. Contact us for more information.
CLP Label Information
We offer the option to purchase a CLP compliant product label, containing all mandatory information as required by the EU CLP Regulation. This will be provided as a PDF. This is not a design, but a summery of the required information. This will enable you to integrate the necessary information into your product label design. You can also order the CLP label creation separately. Already have a label? — We can do a CLP label compliance check of your label in accordance with current CLP requirements. We will provide detailed feedback and corrections to ensure your label meets all regulatory standards.
Poison Centre Notification for Other Auxiliary Laundry and Care Products (Excluding Biocidal Products)
Other auxiliary laundry and care products, apart from the well-known categories like fabric softeners or stain removers, can include a variety of formulations for specialized laundry needs. These might range from pH adjusters and fragrance boosters to particular water treatment or fabric protection agents. If any of these products fall under the EU’s hazardous classification, a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is required to ensure poison centers have immediate access to the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, and recommended emergency measures. This allows for a faster, more accurate response in case of accidental exposure.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code linking a hazardous product to its precise chemical formulation. For other auxiliary laundry and care products deemed hazardous, this code must be displayed on the product label, typically near any hazard symbols or safety warnings. In the event of an emergency, poison centers reference the UFI to identify the exact product composition, enabling them to provide targeted first-aid or medical advice.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a legally mandated submission under EU regulations for hazardous chemical mixtures. By submitting a PCN for auxiliary laundry and care products, manufacturers and distributors provide poison centers with data such as the product’s composition, packaging, hazard classification, and recommended first aid. This enables rapid and precise guidance if accidental exposure occurs.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation ensures that chemicals are uniformly classified and labeled throughout EU member states. If an auxiliary laundry product meets hazardous criteria, it must display hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI on its label. This labeling scheme helps users handle products safely while also providing crucial information to emergency responders.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national poison centers dedicated to giving urgent medical and safety advice in incidents involving chemical exposure. Registering hazardous auxiliary laundry and care products via a PCN allows these centers to rapidly access the product’s chemical details, improving the accuracy and speed of any required medical interventions.
Why Is This Needed?
These auxiliary laundry and care products may include surfactants, fragrances, or other additives that can pose hazards if mishandled or if accidental contact with skin, eyes, or mucous membranes occurs. A PCN ensures poison centers have up-to-date safety profiles, minimizing health risks and maintaining compliance with EU regulations.
Since When Is This by Law Obligatory?
From January 1, 2021, under the EU CLP regulation, any hazardous chemical product—encompassing other auxiliary laundry and care products—must be registered via a Poison Centre Notification. This alignment enforces standardized safety measures and emergency procedures across EU member states.
FAQ
Question: Do all auxiliary laundry and care products require a PCN?
Answer: Only products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation must submit a PCN. Non-hazardous formulations are exempt from this requirement.
Question: Where should I place the UFI on the product label?
Answer: The UFI is commonly displayed near hazard warnings or safety symbols on the label, enabling poison centers to identify the product quickly in emergencies.
Question: What information does a PCN typically include?
Answer: A PCN covers the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, packaging details, usage instructions, and recommended first aid—ensuring efficient and informed responses to exposure scenarios.
Question: Who must submit the PCN?
Answer: The product’s manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing it on the EU market assumes responsibility for filing the PCN if it meets hazardous criteria.
Question: What are the penalties for not submitting a PCN when required?
Answer: Non-compliance can result in fines, product recalls, or restrictions on sale within the EU until the PCN obligations are satisfied.
Question: Are professional-use products also subject to PCN requirements?
Answer: Yes. If deemed hazardous, both consumer and professional-use products must adhere to the PCN regulation under EU law.
Question: When did the PCN requirement become mandatory?
Answer: The PCN requirement for hazardous chemical products has been in effect since January 1, 2021, according to the EU CLP regulation.
Question: How long does it take to submit the UFI and PCN notification?
It takes us a few days’ work. As soon as you upload the documentation, we will get started right away.
Question: Am I the owner of the PCN notification?
Yes, you are the owner of the PCN notification. You retain full ownership of the data you provided. The PCN notification will be accessible in your ECHA account.
Question: Is this service for one product or more?
The service is for one product.
Question: Why do I have to pay to create a UFI?
The service we offer is not just about providing a UFI. The UFI is a component within a much more extensive process. The core service we provide is the preparation and submission of your Poison Centre Notification (PCN) to national appointed bodies through ECHA portal, which is a mandatory requirement under the EU CLP Regulation for placing hazardous mixtures on the market. Generating a UFI is simplest part. The PCN report, however, is complex. It demands detailed ingredient review—chemical classifications—formatted precisely for Poison Centre submission via ECHA.
Question: My company is not based in the EU, how can I submit a PCN?
We provide a solution for companies which are not based in the EU. You can find more information on the PCN & UFI for non-EU companies page.
Question: Can you provide Safety Data Sheets in full compliance with EU Regulation (REACH & CLP)?
Yes, we can create Safety Data Sheets (SDS)— also known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)— tailored to your product and compliant with the latest EU regulations. Whether you are manufacturing chemical mixtures, importing products into the EU, or distributing under a private label, a compliant SDS is legally required and essential for safe use throughout the supply chain. You will find more on the Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS) Creation Service page.
