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 Inks and Toners for Home and Office Printers
Inks and toners used in home and office printers contain various chemical substances, including solvents, dyes, and binding agents. Some of these components may be hazardous if inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin. To enhance consumer safety and emergency response, manufacturers and importers must submit a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) for hazardous ink and toner products in accordance with EU regulations.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that links a specific ink or toner formulation to its corresponding Poison Centre Notification (PCN). The UFI must be displayed on the product label or included in the product’s safety data sheet (SDS). This allows poison centres to quickly identify the product and provide appropriate medical advice in case of accidental exposure.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a legally required submission that contains detailed information about a hazardous ink or toner product. This includes its chemical composition, hazard classification, and intended use. The notification ensures that Poison Centres have immediate access to this data for effective emergency response.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation is an EU framework that standardizes the classification of hazardous chemicals. Printer inks and toners that contain hazardous substances must comply with CLP requirements by including appropriate hazard labels, precautionary statements, and a UFI on their packaging.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a network of national institutions responsible for providing emergency medical assistance in cases of chemical exposure. When a PCN is submitted, poison centres gain access to critical product information, allowing them to offer accurate treatment recommendations in case of accidental exposure.
Why is This Needed?
Printer inks and toners may contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, or toxicity if inhaled or ingested. The PCN ensures that poison centres have access to necessary data to respond swiftly in case of accidental exposure, protecting consumers and office workers.
Since When is This by Law Obligatory?
As of January 1, 2021, under Annex VIII of the CLP regulation, all hazardous mixtures, including printer inks and toners classified as hazardous, require a PCN submission before being placed on the EU market.
FAQ
Question: Do all printer inks and toners require a PCN?
Answer: No, only products classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation require a PCN submission.
Question: Where should the UFI be displayed?
Answer: The UFI must be printed on the product label near the hazard and precautionary information or included in the product’s safety data sheet (SDS).
Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN?
Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or downstream user placing the product on the EU market is responsible for submitting the PCN.
Question: Are ink cartridges and toner powders included in the PCN requirement?
Answer: If the ink or toner contains hazardous chemicals, it must comply with PCN requirements. Non-hazardous products do not require notification.
Question: What happens if I do not submit a PCN for a hazardous printer ink or toner?
Answer: Failure to comply with PCN requirements can result in fines, product recalls, or restrictions on selling the product within the EU.
Question: Do PCN requirements apply to all EU member states?
Answer: Yes, PCN compliance is mandatory across all EU member states 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.
