PCN & UFI for Lubricants & Greases

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 Lubricants, Greases, and Release Agents

Lubricants, greases, and release agents are essential in various industries for reducing friction, preventing wear, and facilitating the release of materials from molds or equipment. These products often contain chemical substances that could pose risks to health or the environment. To comply with EU regulations, a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is required for hazardous lubricants, greases, and release agents. The PCN ensures that safety data is available to poison centers in the event of exposure or accidents involving these products.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that links the chemical composition of a lubricant, grease, or release agent to its PCN. This code is essential for identifying the product during an emergency, enabling first responders to access critical information quickly and provide appropriate medical advice.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a report submitted to the EU poison centers, detailing important product information such as chemical composition, hazard classification, and intended use. This information helps poison centers respond to incidents involving hazardous lubricants, greases, or release agents and provides the necessary data for effective emergency management.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation ensures that hazardous chemicals, including lubricants, greases, and release agents, are properly classified, labelled, and packaged. This regulation requires that hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI be included on the product label to inform users of potential risks.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national organizations that manage chemical exposure and poisoning cases. By submitting a PCN, manufacturers of lubricants, greases, and release agents provide the necessary data for poison centers to respond effectively in emergency situations and offer proper guidance for treatment and safety measures.

Why is This Needed?

Lubricants, greases, and release agents may contain chemicals that, if mishandled or exposed to individuals, can cause harm to health or the environment. The PCN ensures that poison centers have the data they need to provide accurate medical advice in case of exposure, promoting safety and compliance with European regulations.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

The requirement for submitting a PCN for hazardous mixtures, including lubricants, greases, and release agents, was introduced under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation. This became mandatory on January 1, 2021.

FAQ

Question: Do all lubricants, greases, and release agents require a PCN?

Answer: No, only lubricants, greases, and release agents that are classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.

Question: What type of lubricants, greases, or release agents need a PCN?

Answer: Only hazardous lubricants, greases, and release agents that may pose a risk to human health or the environment require a PCN. Non-hazardous products do not need to be reported.

Question: What information is required for a PCN submission for lubricants, greases, or release agents?

Answer: The PCN submission must include information about the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, intended use, packaging, and the Unique Formula Identifier (UFI).

Question: Where should the UFI be displayed on lubricants, greases, or release agents?

Answer: The UFI must be clearly displayed on the product label, near the hazard symbols and precautionary statements, to ensure it can be easily referenced in emergencies.

Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN for lubricants, greases, and release agents?

Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or downstream user responsible for placing the lubricant, grease, or release agent on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN.

Question: What happens if a PCN is not submitted for lubricants, greases, or release agents?

Answer: Non-compliance with the PCN requirement can lead to fines, product recalls, or restrictions on the sale of the product within the EU market.

Question: Are non-hazardous lubricants or greases exempt from PCN requirements?

Answer: Yes, only hazardous lubricants, greases, or release agents that are classified under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.

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.