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 Other Paints and Coating Materials
Other paints and coating materials that do not fall under existing categories still require a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). This includes any paints or coatings not previously specified by existing classifications. Manufacturers of such products must notify the Poison Centres to ensure that their products are safely handled and emergency responders have the necessary information in case of chemical exposure.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a code that uniquely identifies a product’s chemical composition. It enables emergency responders to quickly access safety data about a product in case of exposure or emergency situations. For paints and coating materials not already covered by existing categories, a UFI ensures that the product’s composition is well-defined and easily identifiable in hazardous situations.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a report that provides detailed information about a product’s chemical composition, classification, labeling, and safety measures. This notification is essential for products like other paints and coatings that might not be classified under existing categories. The PCN ensures that the product’s potential hazards are clearly communicated to emergency responders, allowing for a quick and efficient response to any exposure incidents.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation is a European Union law that requires manufacturers to classify, label, and package their products based on their chemical hazards. This ensures that users, workers, and emergency responders are aware of the potential risks associated with paints and coating materials, including other types not covered by existing categories. CLP compliance helps ensure that the right precautions are taken to avoid harm and manage chemical risks.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network that provides emergency advice and guidance in cases of chemical exposure or poisoning. The center uses the information submitted in the PCN to ensure that responders can act quickly and appropriately. For products like other paints and coating materials, submitting a PCN ensures that emergency teams have access to the right data for effective responses to accidents involving the product.
Why is This Needed?
Even for paints and coating materials not specifically covered by existing categories, it is essential to notify the Poison Centre to ensure public safety. By providing a PCN, manufacturers ensure that their products are properly classified, labeled, and include adequate safety information. This is important for preventing harm to consumers, workers, and first responders in case of an emergency or exposure.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
Since January 1, 2021, it became mandatory for all hazardous chemical products, including paints and coating materials that are not already covered by other categories, to submit a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) to the EU. This regulation was introduced to ensure that all products are appropriately classified and labeled with relevant hazard information, ensuring safety for everyone involved in handling these products.
FAQ
Question: Do I need a PCN for paints and coating materials not already covered by existing categories?
Answer: Yes, if your paint or coating material is not already covered by existing categories, you must submit a PCN to the Poison Centres. This ensures that emergency responders have access to all relevant information in case of a chemical exposure or emergency situation.
Question: What information do I need to provide in the PCN for paints and coating materials?
Answer: The PCN for paints and coating materials includes the UFI, chemical composition, classification under the CLP regulation, and label details, including precautionary statements and safety instructions. This ensures that emergency responders can access all necessary information for safe handling.
Question: What happens if I do not submit a PCN for my paint or coating material?
Answer: Failure to submit a PCN can result in legal consequences, including fines or removal of the product from the market. Moreover, emergency responders will not have access to critical information in case of exposure incidents, which could potentially increase the health risks to consumers and workers.
Question: How can I submit a PCN for my paint or coating material?
Answer: To submit a PCN, you will need to compile the required information, including the UFI, chemical composition, hazard classification, and label details. Our company offers services to help you complete and submit the necessary documentation, ensuring full compliance with EU regulations.
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.
