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 Professional or Industrial Automatic Dishwashing Detergents
Automatic dishwashing detergents meant for professional or industrial settings, such as restaurants, institutional kitchens, or food processing facilities, often contain stronger chemicals or higher concentrations of active ingredients (e.g., alkalis, enzymes, or surfactants) compared to their household counterparts. These formulations, which target tough food residues under intensive conditions, may be classified as hazardous under EU regulations. Consequently, any professional or industrial dishwashing detergent that meets hazard criteria requires a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). By submitting a PCN, manufacturers and distributors allow poison centers to access critical data—like the detergent’s chemical composition, hazard classification, and first-aid directions—thus ensuring swift, accurate support if accidental contact, ingestion, or inhalation occurs.
What is a UFI?
The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code that directly links a hazardous product to its exact chemical formulation. For professional or industrial dishwashing detergents deemed hazardous, the UFI must be printed on the product label, typically close to hazard symbols or precautionary statements. Poison centers reference this identifier during emergencies to pinpoint the product’s composition instantly and advise on the proper medical or first-aid measures.
What is a PCN?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a mandatory submission under EU regulations for any chemical mixture classified as hazardous. Submitting a PCN for an industrial or professional-use dishwashing detergent provides poison centers with vital information—covering the product’s ingredients, packaging format, hazard classification, and recommended first-aid steps. This facilitates prompt and precise guidance by healthcare professionals in accidental exposure incidents.
What is CLP?
The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation establishes consistent criteria for chemical classification and labeling across EU member states. When a dishwashing detergent meets hazardous thresholds, its labeling must incorporate hazard symbols, risk/precaution statements, and the UFI. This labeling framework allows users and emergency responders to identify potential risks and adhere to safe handling practices, especially in high-volume or high-frequency professional applications.
What is the Poison Centre?
The Poison Centre is a collective network of national poison centers that delivers immediate advice and medical support in chemical exposure events. By registering an industrial or professional dishwashing detergent through a PCN, manufacturers and distributors enable these centers to access the product’s hazard details quickly, enhancing the speed and accuracy of any emergency intervention.
Why Is This Needed?
Professional or industrial dishwashing detergents can include potent substances for effective cleaning under challenging conditions, raising the risk of irritation or harm if mishandled. A PCN guarantees poison centers have thorough knowledge of the detergent’s chemical profile, reducing hazards for kitchen staff and other users, and upholding EU safety regulations.
Since When Is This by Law Obligatory?
Since January 1, 2021, any product classified as hazardous, including professional or industrial dishwashing detergents, must be registered via a PCN under EU CLP regulations. This standardized approach ensures consistent safety and emergency response mechanisms across all EU member states.
FAQ
Question: Are all industrial dishwashing detergents subject to PCN requirements?
Answer: Only those detergents classified as hazardous under the CLP regulation need a PCN. Products without hazardous components are exempt.
Question: Where should I display the UFI on the product label?
Answer: The UFI is typically placed near hazard symbols or safety statements, making it easily identifiable by poison centers during emergencies.
Question: What data does a PCN submission for industrial dishwashing detergents include?
Answer: A PCN covers the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, usage instructions, packaging format, and recommended first-aid measures, enabling poison centers to respond effectively to exposures.
Question: Who must submit the PCN?
Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing a hazardous product on the EU market usually handles the PCN submission if the product meets hazardous classification criteria.
Question: What penalties apply for failing to submit a PCN when required?
Answer: Non-compliance can result in fines, product recalls, or restrictions on selling the detergent in the EU until the PCN obligations are fulfilled.
Question: When did these PCN requirements take effect?
Answer: The PCN requirement for hazardous chemical mixtures became mandatory on January 1, 2021, per the EU 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.
