PCN & UFI for Laundry Care Products

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:

*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 Auxiliary Laundry and Care Products (Excluding Biocidal Products)

Auxiliary laundry and care products, which are not biocidal in nature (e.g., fabric softeners, stain removers, water-softening agents), play an essential role in enhancing laundry results and prolonging fabric life. If these auxiliary products meet the EU’s criteria for hazardous classification, they must undergo a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). By submitting a PCN, manufacturers and distributors ensure poison centers have immediate access to the product’s safety data—chemical composition, hazard classification, and first-aid measures—allowing healthcare professionals to provide quick, effective advice in case of accidental exposure.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that directly ties a hazardous product to its exact chemical formulation. For auxiliary laundry and care products deemed hazardous, the UFI should be prominently displayed on the product label, commonly near any hazard symbols or warning statements. In the event of an emergency, poison centers rely on this code to identify the product’s components and offer accurate medical guidance.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a compulsory submission for chemical mixtures classified as hazardous under EU regulations. Submitting a PCN for auxiliary laundry and care products ensures poison centers are furnished with vital details—such as the mixture’s composition, classification, packaging, and first-aid instructions—so they can swiftly respond to exposure incidents. This measure also helps maintain compliance with EU safety regulations.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation harmonizes how chemicals are classified and labeled across EU member states. If an auxiliary laundry product meets hazardous classification thresholds, its label must display hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI. This labeling setup informs users about potential risks and promotes safe handling.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national poison centers charged with providing timely and accurate guidance in chemical exposure situations. Registering an auxiliary laundry or care product via a PCN ensures these centers have quick access to the product’s essential safety data, improving outcomes in accidental exposures by enabling precise interventions.

Why is This Needed?

Auxiliary laundry and care products may include stain removers, fabric softeners, or water-softening agents that contain chemicals posing health hazards if misused. A PCN guarantees poison centers can reference the product’s composition and safety details instantly, reducing the likelihood and severity of harm following exposure. It also ensures compliance with EU regulations regarding chemical safety.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

As of January 1, 2021, any hazardous chemical mixture—encompassing auxiliary laundry and care products—must be registered through a PCN under EU CLP regulations. This requirement enforces standardized safety measures and emergency procedures across EU member states.

FAQ

Question: Do all auxiliary laundry products require a PCN?

Answer: Only products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation need a PCN. If a product is not deemed hazardous, registration is unnecessary.

Question: Where should I place the UFI on the product label?

Answer: The UFI typically appears near any hazard symbols or safety warnings, ensuring quick identification by poison centers and emergency responders.

Question: What does a PCN submission involve?

Answer: A PCN must include details on the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, packaging information, recommended first-aid measures, and usage instructions, allowing poison centers to respond effectively in exposure cases.

Question: Are bleaching agents or textile fresheners included here?

Answer: No. Bleaching products are addressed under “Bleaching products for cleaning or laundry use (excludes biocidal products),” and textile fresheners are covered under “Textile fresheners/deodorisers.”

Question: Who is responsible for submitting a PCN for hazardous laundry additives?

Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing the hazardous product on the EU market is required to file the PCN if the product meets the hazardous classification criteria.

Question: What are the penalties for not submitting a PCN when required?

Answer: Non-compliance can lead to fines, product recalls, or restrictions on placing the product in EU markets until all PCN requirements are met.

Question: When did PCN requirements become mandatory for hazardous products?

Answer: The requirement took effect on January 1, 2021, as part of the EU CLP regulation, ensuring uniform safety standards across EU member states.

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.