PCN & UFI for Metal Surface Treatment

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 Metal Surface Treatment Products

Metal surface treatment products are widely used in industrial and manufacturing settings to clean, remove oxides and rust, and enhance the passivation of metal surfaces before further processing. These products often contain hazardous chemicals that pose risks if improperly handled. To ensure safety, a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is required for these products before they are placed on the EU market. This allows poison centers to provide accurate emergency response information in case of accidental exposure.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that must be included on product labels and safety data sheets. It allows poison centers to quickly identify the exact formulation of a product in case of an emergency, ensuring that the correct medical advice can be given.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a regulatory submission that provides detailed information about a chemical mixture, including its composition, classification, toxicological properties, and safety measures. This ensures that poison centers across the EU have the necessary data to respond to emergencies effectively.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation establishes a standardized system for classifying and labeling hazardous chemicals in the EU. It ensures that users are aware of potential risks and that appropriate safety measures are communicated through product labels.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national organizations responsible for providing medical advice in cases of chemical exposure. Registering a product with the Poison Centre ensures that healthcare professionals have immediate access to information on hazardous substances to provide the best treatment.

Why is This Needed?

Metal surface treatment products often contain acids, bases, and other chemicals that can be harmful if inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with skin. A PCN ensures that emergency responders and healthcare providers have accurate information to manage potential poisoning incidents effectively.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

Since January 1, 2021, all hazardous chemical mixtures, including metal surface treatment products, must be registered with the Poison Centre before being marketed in the EU. This is required under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation to improve emergency preparedness and consumer safety.

FAQ

Question: Do all metal surface treatment products require a PCN?

Answer: If a product contains hazardous substances and is classified under the CLP regulation, a PCN is required before it can be sold in the EU.

Question: What details must be submitted in a PCN?

Answer: A PCN must include the UFI, product formulation, hazard classification, toxicological data, and recommended emergency response actions.

Question: What happens if I fail to submit a PCN?

Answer: Non-compliance with PCN regulations can result in fines, restrictions on sales, and increased liability in case of poisoning incidents.

Question: How can I submit a PCN for my metal surface treatment product?

Answer: PCN submissions are made through the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) portal. Our company provides a complete service, including UFI generation, CLP-compliant labeling, PCN report preparation, and product registration with the Poison Centre.

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.