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 Decorative Paints and Coatings
Decorative paints and coatings, including tinters for deco mixing systems, are commonly used for decorative architectural purposes, such as painting interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and fixtures. These products include varnishes and wood stains that provide both aesthetic and protective properties. Due to the chemicals contained in these products, it is vital to ensure compliance with EU regulations, including the submission of a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). The PCN allows emergency responders to access critical information in the event of an accident or exposure.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a code used to identify the specific chemical composition of a product. For decorative paints and coatings, the UFI is necessary to ensure that first responders can access the correct safety information for the exact mixture involved in an emergency. This helps healthcare professionals and emergency teams to respond appropriately to chemical exposure incidents.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a report that manufacturers of hazardous products must submit to the Poison Centres. It includes critical details such as the chemical composition, classification, and emergency contact information for the product. For decorative paints and coatings, a PCN submission ensures that the product is registered in the EU’s Poison Centre database, allowing emergency responders to access detailed safety information when needed.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation is an EU framework that governs the classification, labelling, and packaging of chemicals. For decorative paints and coatings, the CLP Regulation dictates how to classify the product based on its hazards and provides rules for appropriate labelling. This includes hazard pictograms, signal words, and precautionary statements, which help to inform users of the risks and how to safely handle the product.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national poison control centres across the EU member states. It provides emergency response services in cases of chemical exposure or poisoning. By submitting a PCN for decorative paints and coatings, manufacturers ensure that emergency responders have access to detailed and accurate information about the product’s chemical composition, hazards, and first aid measures during emergency situations.
Why is This Needed?
The submission of a PCN is crucial to safeguard human health and ensure an effective emergency response. In case of accidental exposure or poisoning due to decorative paints and coatings, having a PCN allows first responders to quickly access the necessary information, such as the product’s hazardous properties and recommended treatment measures. Without this information, the response time may be delayed, potentially leading to more severe health outcomes.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
As of January 1, 2021, it became a legal requirement for manufacturers of decorative paints and coatings containing hazardous chemicals to submit a PCN. This requirement was introduced to improve consumer safety and ensure that first responders have the necessary data during emergencies. Non-compliance can result in fines and regulatory actions, including the removal of products from the market.
FAQ
Question: Do I need to submit a PCN for my decorative paint or coating?
Answer: Yes, if your decorative paint or coating contains hazardous chemicals, you are required to submit a PCN. This is mandated by EU law to ensure emergency responders can access essential safety information in the event of chemical exposure.
Question: What information is required for a PCN submission?
Answer: A PCN submission for decorative paints and coatings requires information such as the product’s UFI, hazard classification according to CLP, emergency contact details, and first aid instructions. This ensures that emergency responders have the necessary information to act quickly and effectively in case of an emergency.
Question: What happens if I do not submit a PCN for my product?
Answer: If you do not submit a PCN, your product may not be legally available for sale in the EU. Non-compliance can result in fines, product recalls, or even removal from the market. Additionally, emergency responders will not have access to the necessary safety data in case of an incident.
Question: How can I submit a PCN for my decorative paint or coating product?
Answer: To submit a PCN, you will need to gather the required product information, including the UFI, CLP hazard classifications, and emergency response data. Our company provides expert services to help you prepare and submit a PCN, ensuring full compliance with EU regulations.
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.
