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 Commercial Printing Inks, Toners, and Related Finishing Products
Commercial printing inks, toners, and finishing products used in industrial or professional printing processes (such as flexography, lithography, and screen printing) often contain chemicals that can be hazardous to human health. These substances may include solvents, pigments, and binding agents that pose risks if inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin. To ensure proper handling and emergency response, a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) must be submitted for all hazardous mixtures under EU regulations.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that links a specific formulation of a commercial printing product to its Poison Centre Notification (PCN). The UFI must be displayed on the product label or included in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help poison centres quickly identify the substance and provide accurate medical guidance in case of exposure.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a mandatory submission that provides detailed information about a hazardous printing ink, toner, or finishing product. This notification includes the chemical composition, hazard classification, and intended industrial use. The PCN ensures that poison centres can respond effectively in case of accidental exposure.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation standardizes the classification of hazardous chemicals in the EU. Printing inks, toners, and finishing products containing hazardous substances must comply with CLP requirements by displaying appropriate hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and a UFI on their packaging.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national institutions that provide emergency medical assistance in cases of chemical exposure. When a PCN is submitted, poison centres have immediate access to critical product information, allowing them to provide appropriate treatment recommendations.
Why is This Needed?
Many commercial printing products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and other hazardous substances that can cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other health effects. A PCN submission ensures that emergency responders have the necessary information to provide immediate and effective treatment in case of accidental exposure.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
As of January 1, 2021, under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation, all hazardous mixtures, including commercial printing inks, toners, and finishing products, require a PCN submission before being placed on the EU market.
FAQ
Question: Do all commercial printing inks and toners require a PCN?
Answer: No, only products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.
Question: Where should the UFI be displayed?
Answer: The UFI must be printed on the product label near the hazard and precautionary information or included in the product’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN?
Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or downstream user placing the product on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN.
Question: Are finishing products such as coatings and varnishes included?
Answer: Yes, if they contain hazardous chemicals, they must comply with PCN requirements.
Question: What happens if I do not submit a PCN for a hazardous commercial printing product?
Answer: Failure to comply with PCN requirements can result in fines, product recalls, or restrictions on selling the product within the EU.
Question: Do PCN requirements apply to all EU member states?
Answer: Yes, PCN compliance is mandatory across all EU member states under the 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.
