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:
| Belgium | (BE) | Spain | (ES) | Hungary | (HU) | Slovakia | (SK) |
| Bulgaria | (BG) | France | (FR) | Malta | (MT) | Finland | (FI) |
| Czechia | (CZ) | Croatia | (HR) | Netherlands | (NL) | Sweden | (SE) |
| Denmark | (DK) | Italy | (IT) | Austria | (AT) | Germany | (DE) |
| Cyprus | (CY) | Poland | (PL) | Iceland | (IS) | Estonia | (EE) |
| Latvia | (LV) | Portugal | (PT) | Liechtenstein | (LI) | Ireland | (IE) |
| Lithuania | (LT) | Romania | (RO) | Norway | (NO) | Greece | (EL) |
| Luxembourg | (LU) | Slovenia | (SI) | Switzerland* | (CH) |
*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 Desiccants
Desiccants are substances primarily used to absorb moisture and maintain dryness in a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. These products include silica gel and other moisture-absorbing materials, which are used in packaging, storage, and shipping to prevent damage from humidity. To comply with EU regulations, desiccants, especially those with hazardous properties, require a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). This ensures that emergency responders and poison centers have easy access to key safety data in case of accidental exposure or misuse.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that links the composition of a desiccant to its Poison Centre Notification. The UFI is required to be printed on the product label, helping emergency responders quickly identify the product and its potential risks in case of an accident or emergency.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a detailed submission made to Poison Centres that includes vital information about the product’s chemical composition, classification, hazards, intended use, and packaging. This notification helps poison centers provide the appropriate medical advice and emergency responses in cases of accidental exposure to hazardous substances, such as desiccants.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation ensures that hazardous substances, including desiccants, are classified, labeled, and packaged according to their potential health and environmental risks. Desiccants must be clearly labeled with appropriate hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and a UFI to comply with the CLP regulation.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national organizations across the EU that handle cases of chemical exposure and poisoning. By maintaining access to detailed product information, such as that provided through PCNs, the Poison Centre can offer immediate and accurate guidance during emergencies involving hazardous products, including desiccants.
Why is This Needed?
Desiccants, especially those that contain chemicals such as silica gel, can pose risks to human health if mishandled. A Poison Centre Notification ensures that poison centers have all necessary data to respond to exposure incidents effectively. This helps protect public health and facilitates rapid emergency intervention in case of poisoning or other harmful effects.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
The obligation to submit a PCN for hazardous mixtures, including desiccants, was established under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation and became mandatory on January 1, 2021.
FAQ
Question: Do all desiccants require a PCN?
Answer: No, only desiccants that are classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN.
Question: What information is required to complete a PCN?
Answer: A PCN must include the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, intended use, packaging information, and the Unique Formula Identifier (UFI).
Question: Where should the UFI be displayed?
Answer: The UFI must be displayed on the product label, close to hazard and precautionary statements to make it visible during emergency situations.
Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN?
Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or downstream user who places the desiccant on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN.
Question: What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Answer: Failure to submit a PCN can result in penalties such as fines, product recalls, or restrictions on the sale of the desiccant within the EU.
Question: Are desiccants used for packaging exempt from the PCN requirements?
Answer: No, desiccants used in packaging that are classified as hazardous must still comply with the PCN requirements under 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.
