PCN & UFI for Matches

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.

Registering Matches with the Poison Centre

Matches, commonly used for lighting candles, stoves, and other products, contain chemicals that can pose risks to health if mishandled or ingested. Therefore, it is necessary to submit a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) for matches to ensure emergency responders have the necessary safety information in the event of an incident. The PCN process is part of ensuring that the product is safe for consumers and can be properly managed in case of exposure or accidents.

What is a UFI?

A UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) is a unique code assigned to the formulation of a specific product, such as matches. It is designed to assist emergency responders in quickly identifying the chemical composition of a product. For matches, the UFI provides a fast track for identifying hazardous substances in the event of an emergency, ensuring a quick response to mitigate potential risks.

What is a PCN?

A PCN (Poison Centre Notification) is a mandatory submission to the Poison Centre that includes detailed safety data about a product. For matches, this would include information on the chemicals used in the match’s composition, their potential hazards, and emergency response measures in case of exposure or accidents. The PCN helps ensure that first responders have the right information when dealing with hazardous products.

What is CLP?

CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) is a regulation that requires hazardous substances to be classified, labeled, and packaged according to their risks. For matches, CLP ensures that any hazardous chemicals within the match or its ignition components are properly labeled with hazard symbols, safety warnings, and precautionary instructions, which help both consumers and emergency responders handle the product safely.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a centralized resource that maintains and provides safety information for hazardous products sold across the EU. The Poison Centre is essential for ensuring that emergency responders, healthcare professionals, and the public can access key data about product hazards and appropriate first-aid measures. For matches, it ensures that relevant safety information is available for effective risk management in case of emergencies.

Why is This Needed?

The registration of matches with the Poison Centre through a PCN is needed because matches contain chemicals such as phosphorus, which can pose health risks if mishandled or ingested. The PCN ensures that emergency responders have quick access to important safety data and can act swiftly in case of an accident, such as poisoning, burns, or ingestion. Without this registration, handling and mitigating risks from these products could be delayed and less effective in emergencies.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

Since January 1, 2021, it has been mandatory for hazardous products such as matches to submit a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) in compliance with EU regulations. This obligation helps ensure that critical safety data is available for first responders and other relevant authorities in case of an emergency.

FAQ

Question: Do matches need to be registered with the Poison Centre?

Answer: Yes, matches that contain hazardous chemicals, such as phosphorus or other ignition agents, must be registered with the Poison Centre through a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). This ensures that emergency responders have access to the necessary safety information in case of an incident or exposure.

Question: What is the purpose of a UFI for matches?

Answer: A UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) is a unique code that identifies the formulation of the match. This helps emergency responders quickly access safety information about the chemical composition of the match, aiding them in responding effectively to accidents or exposures.

Question: Why is submitting a PCN for matches important?

Answer: Submitting a PCN ensures that important safety information regarding the match, including its chemical composition, hazards, and emergency response actions, is available to emergency responders. This is critical for managing accidents or exposure efficiently and safely.

Question: How does CLP apply to matches?

Answer: Under CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging), matches that contain hazardous substances must be clearly labeled with hazard symbols and appropriate safety warnings. This informs both consumers and emergency responders about the risks associated with the product and the precautions that should be taken.

Question: When did it become mandatory to submit a PCN for matches?

Answer: The requirement to submit a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) for products like matches became mandatory on January 1, 2021, as part of the EU regulations aimed at improving consumer safety and emergency response capabilities.

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.