PCN & UFI for Personal Item Cleaners

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 Cleaners for Specific Personal Items

Cleaners designed for specific personal items—such as jewelry, eyewear (non-medical), watches, or personal accessories—often contain specialized chemical formulations to gently yet effectively remove dirt, oils, or tarnish. While these products help maintain the appearance and longevity of personal items, they can also pose potential health risks if misused or ingested. For that reason, certain cleaners that meet hazard classification criteria require a Poison Centre Notification (PCN), ensuring poison centers have the product’s vital information to provide accurate advice in case of accidental exposure.

What is a UFI?

A Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code assigned to a product’s specific chemical composition. For cleaners aimed at personal items, the UFI must appear on the label. This code allows poison centers to identify the product’s exact formulation quickly, which is critical during emergencies.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a regulatory submission required for hazardous chemical products sold in the EU. It includes detailed data such as the product’s chemical makeup, hazard classification, and safe handling instructions. For cleaners targeting specific personal items, the PCN ensures that healthcare professionals can respond swiftly and correctly should an exposure or poisoning incident occur.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation is an EU framework that standardizes how chemical products are classified and labeled. For personal item cleaners, CLP compliance necessitates clear hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and usage instructions on the packaging. This helps consumers understand the potential risks involved and manage the product safely.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national poison centers that offer guidance on managing chemical exposures. Registering a personal item cleaner with the Poison Centre through a PCN ensures medical personnel have immediate access to essential product data, allowing them to provide effective, potentially life-saving advice in emergencies.

Why is This Needed?

Products formulated for cleaning specific personal items can contain chemicals such as solvents or surfactants. These ingredients, while effective, can be hazardous if accidentally ingested, inhaled, or if they come into contact with sensitive skin or eyes. Submitting a PCN guarantees that poison centers have all the necessary safety details, minimizing health risks and ensuring a prompt response.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

The submission of a PCN for hazardous chemical products has been mandatory since January 1, 2021, under the EU CLP regulation. This applies to personal item cleaners that are classified as hazardous mixtures, ensuring they meet EU safety standards.

FAQ

Question: Do all cleaners for specific personal items require a PCN?

Answer: Only products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN. If the product is not hazardous, it is exempt from this requirement.

Question: Where can I find the UFI on the product?

Answer: The UFI typically appears on the product label near the safety instructions or hazard symbols, making it easily visible during emergencies.

Question: Why is a PCN crucial for personal item cleaners?

Answer: A PCN ensures poison centers have the exact chemical composition and hazard information, allowing them to provide accurate and timely guidance if someone is exposed to the product.

Question: What types of hazards could these products present?

Answer: Cleaners for personal items may contain solvents, surfactants, or other chemicals that can cause irritation, allergic reactions, or more severe issues if misused or ingested.

Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN?

Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing the product on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer safety.

Question: What if a product is not submitted for PCN when it is required?

Answer: Non-compliance can lead to fines, legal consequences, and potential removal of the product from the EU market until the issue is resolved.

Question: When did the PCN requirement officially come into effect?

Answer: The requirement to submit a PCN for hazardous chemical products became law on January 1, 2021, in accordance with EU CLP 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.