PCN & UFI for Metal Surface Treatment 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 Metal Surface Treatment Products

Metal surface treatment products are essential in various industries for improving the durability, appearance, and functionality of metal surfaces. These products, which contain substances that permanently bind with the metal, include galvanic and electroplating products. In order to comply with EU regulations, metal surface treatment products that are hazardous must undergo a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). This ensures that important safety data is available to poison centers in the event of exposure or accidents.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that links the composition of a metal surface treatment product to its PCN. This UFI must be displayed on the product label to ensure that it can be easily identified during emergencies, facilitating rapid response by medical professionals and poison centers.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a submission that provides detailed product information, including the chemical composition, hazard classification, intended use, and packaging of a product. For metal surface treatment products, the PCN ensures that poison centers have access to critical data, allowing them to respond effectively in case of exposure or emergencies involving these products.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation governs the classification of hazardous chemicals in the EU. It ensures that products such as metal surface treatment products are labeled with appropriate hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI to communicate potential risks to users and first responders.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national organizations that handle chemical exposure and poisoning incidents. By receiving PCN data for hazardous products, such as metal surface treatment products, poison centers are able to provide accurate medical advice and manage emergency situations effectively.

Why is This Needed?

Metal surface treatment products may contain hazardous chemicals that, if mishandled or exposed to individuals, could lead to adverse health effects. The PCN ensures that poison centers have the necessary product data to offer accurate guidance and medical support in case of accidents, helping to prevent harm to people and the environment.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

The requirement to submit a PCN for hazardous mixtures, including metal surface treatment products, was established under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation. This became mandatory on January 1, 2021.

FAQ

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

Answer: No, only those metal surface treatment products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.

Question: What types of metal surface treatment products need a PCN?

Answer: Only metal surface treatment products that contain hazardous substances and may pose a risk to human health or the environment need a PCN.

Question: What information is required for a PCN submission for metal surface treatment products?

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

Question: Where should the UFI be displayed on metal surface treatment products?

Answer: The UFI must be prominently displayed on the product label, near the hazard symbols and precautionary information.

Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN for metal surface treatment products?

Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or downstream user who places the product on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN.

Question: What are the consequences of failing to submit a PCN for metal surface treatment products?

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

Question: Are there exceptions for certain types of metal surface treatment products?

Answer: Some metal surface treatment products that are not classified as hazardous may be exempt from the PCN requirement. However, it is essential to check if the product falls under hazardous classification as per 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.