PCN & UFI for Photographic Processing Chemicals

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 Photochemicals

Photochemicals are products used in the chemical processing of photosensitive materials, including those involved in photographic development and printing. These chemicals can pose various health and environmental hazards due to their active ingredients and reactive nature. To ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place, a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is required for these products under EU regulations. A PCN helps to provide critical safety information to poison centers, enabling them to respond effectively in case of accidental exposure or poisoning.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the chemical composition of a photochemical product. The UFI must be displayed on the product label, allowing poison centers and emergency responders to quickly identify the product in case of exposure. It is an essential part of the Poison Centre Notification and helps in managing emergency situations effectively.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a mandatory submission that provides detailed information about a product’s chemical composition, classification, hazard labeling, and intended use. For photochemicals, this includes information on the active substances, packaging, and possible environmental or health risks. The PCN is essential for ensuring that poison centers have accurate and comprehensive data to provide effective treatment advice in case of exposure to photochemicals.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation ensures that hazardous chemicals, including photochemicals, are properly classified and labeled according to their health, physical, and environmental risks. The CLP regulation mandates that photochemical products display hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI, ensuring the product’s safe handling and use in accordance with EU safety standards.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national poison centers across Europe that manage cases of chemical exposure and poisoning. In the case of photochemicals, the Poison Centre uses the data provided in the PCN to help healthcare professionals identify the specific chemical hazards and offer effective emergency advice. This ensures that victims of accidental exposure receive prompt and accurate medical assistance.

Why is This Needed?

Photochemicals often contain active substances that are toxic, irritant, or hazardous to health and the environment. A PCN ensures that poison centers have all the necessary data to respond appropriately to exposure incidents. It is crucial for providing timely and effective first aid, medical treatment, and emergency response strategies, thereby reducing the risk of harm to individuals and the environment.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

The requirement for submitting a PCN for hazardous mixtures, including photochemicals, became mandatory on January 1, 2021, as per Annex VIII of the CLP regulation. This obligation applies to any hazardous chemical product placed on the EU market.

FAQ

Question: Do all photochemicals require a PCN?

Answer: No, only photochemicals that are classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.

Question: What is the UFI and where must it be placed?

Answer: The UFI is a unique 16-character alphanumeric code used to identify the chemical composition of the product. It must be included on the product label, along with other hazard information such as safety warnings and precautionary statements.

Question: What information is required to complete a PCN for photochemicals?

Answer: A PCN for photochemicals requires information about the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, packaging, intended use, and the UFI. It also requires details about potential health and environmental risks associated with the product.

Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN for photochemicals?

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

Question: What happens if a PCN is not submitted for photochemicals?

Answer: Failure to submit a PCN can lead to penalties, product recalls, or restrictions on the sale of the product within the EU market. It can also result in a delay in emergency medical responses in case of exposure.

Question: Are all photochemical products covered by the PCN requirement?

Answer: No, only those photochemicals that are classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation are required to submit a PCN. Non-hazardous photochemicals are not subject to this requirement.

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.