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 Professional or Industrial Laundry Detergents
Laundry detergents designed for professional or industrial use, including unit-dose capsules, often contain more potent or concentrated chemicals than their household counterparts. Due to their potential hazards (such as skin irritation, eye damage, or toxicity if ingested), these detergents classified as hazardous under EU regulations must undergo a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). Filing a PCN ensures that poison centers have access to comprehensive product information—such as the detergent’s chemical composition, hazard classification, and first-aid guidelines—so they can deliver rapid, accurate advice in cases of accidental exposure.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that precisely links a hazardous product to its chemical formulation. For professional or industrial laundry detergents, including single-dose capsules, this UFI must be displayed on the product label, commonly near hazard statements or precautionary instructions. Poison centers use the UFI in emergencies to identify the product’s exact composition and recommend correct medical interventions.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a mandatory submission under EU law for any hazardous chemical mixture. By submitting a PCN for detergents intended for professional or industrial use, manufacturers and distributors provide poison centers with critical details about the product—covering its chemical makeup, classification, packaging format, and recommended handling measures. This enables healthcare professionals to act swiftly and effectively when responding to accidental exposures.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation harmonizes how hazardous chemicals are identified and communicated across the European Union. Professional or industrial detergents that meet hazardous criteria must display hazard symbols, risk phrases, and the UFI on their labels to ensure users and first responders can recognize potential dangers and apply safe operating practices.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national poison centers in EU member states that offers immediate advice and treatment recommendations when chemical exposures happen. By registering professional or industrial laundry detergents with a PCN, companies allow these poison centers to retrieve the detergent’s safety data rapidly, leading to precise, time-sensitive emergency responses.
Why is This Needed?
Professional or industrial laundry detergents can contain higher concentrations of enzymes, surfactants, bleaches, or other agents than consumer-grade products. This greater potency raises the risk of skin and eye irritation, respiratory issues, or toxicity if mishandled. A PCN ensures poison centers have full insight into the product’s hazards, allowing for rapid intervention and adherence to EU regulatory standards.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
The obligation to submit a PCN for hazardous chemical mixtures, including professional or industrial laundry detergents, came into force on January 1, 2021, under the EU CLP regulation. This standardization upholds uniform safety measures and emergency protocols across member states.
FAQ
Question: Do all professional or industrial laundry detergents require a PCN?
Answer: Only detergents classified as hazardous under CLP regulations must be registered with a PCN. Non-hazardous products are exempt from this requirement.
Question: Where should the UFI appear on the product label?
Answer: The UFI is generally placed near any hazard symbols or safety statements, ensuring poison centers and responders can identify it quickly in an emergency.
Question: What details must a PCN submission include for these detergents?
Answer: A PCN covers the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, packaging specifics, usage instructions, and first-aid measures, enabling effective responses to exposure incidents.
Question: Who is responsible for filing the PCN?
Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing the detergent on the EU market typically must file the PCN if the product meets the hazardous classification criteria.
Question: What are the penalties for not submitting a PCN?
Answer: Non-compliance can result in fines, legal penalties, or product recalls until the PCN obligations are met, hindering the sale of the product in EU markets.
Question: Are single-dose detergent capsules also subject to PCN regulations?
Answer: Yes, if a unit-dose detergent capsule is classified as hazardous, it requires a PCN registration, whether for consumer, professional, or industrial use.
Question: When did the PCN requirement take effect for hazardous detergents?
Answer: The requirement has been enforced since January 1, 2021, under the EU CLP regulation for hazardous chemical mixtures.
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.
