PCN & UFI for Vehicle Cleaning & Care Products

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 Other Vehicle Cleaning and Care Products

Other vehicle cleaning and care products, which can include a wide range of formulas not specifically covered by existing categories, may be designed for plastic trims, decorative chrome, interior details, or engine bay touch-ups. If any of these products fall under the EU’s hazardous classification, they require a Poison Centre Notification (PCN). This ensures that poison centers have direct access to essential safety details—like chemical composition and hazard data—allowing them to provide swift, accurate assistance if accidental exposure or misuse occurs.

What is a UFI?

The Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) is a 16-character alphanumeric code connecting a hazardous product to its precise formulation. For these additional vehicle cleaning and care products, if classified as hazardous, the UFI must be clearly displayed on the product label, typically near hazard symbols or safety warnings. In an emergency, poison centers reference the UFI to pinpoint the product’s composition and guide proper medical or first-aid responses.

What is a PCN?

A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is a mandatory submission under EU regulations for hazardous chemical mixtures. By submitting a PCN, manufacturers and distributors of vehicle cleaning and care products supply poison centers with critical information, including the product’s ingredients, packaging, hazard classification, and emergency handling guidance. This facilitates prompt and informed interventions by healthcare providers during exposure incidents.

What is CLP?

The Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation provides a standardized framework for identifying and communicating chemical hazards across the EU. Hazardous vehicle cleaning or care products must exhibit appropriate hazard symbols, precautionary statements, and the UFI on their labels. This labeling helps users and emergency responders recognize and address potential risks.

What is the Poison Centre?

The Poison Centre is a network of national institutions throughout member states, offering guidance and rapid medical advice during chemical exposure crises. When a hazardous product, such as a specialized vehicle care item, is registered through a PCN, poison centers can promptly access the product’s formula, enabling them to deliver precise medical instructions if exposure occurs.

Why is This Needed?

Vehicle cleaning and care products can contain strong detergents, solvents, or protective agents that may pose health hazards if accidentally inhaled, ingested, or contacted with skin or eyes. A PCN ensures that poison centers have detailed safety information at the ready, reducing risks to both users and first responders while ensuring compliance with EU safety regulations.

Since When is This by Law Obligatory?

The obligation to submit a PCN for hazardous chemical products, including those used for vehicle cleaning and care, came into effect on January 1, 2021, under the EU CLP regulation. This alignment aims to create consistent safety and emergency handling measures across member states.

FAQ

Question: Do all vehicle cleaning and care products require a PCN?

Answer: Only those products classified as hazardous under CLP regulations need to be registered through a PCN. Non-hazardous formulas do not require registration.

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

Answer: The UFI is typically placed near the hazard statements or warning symbols, so it’s easily identifiable in emergencies.

Question: What does a PCN for vehicle care products include?

Answer: A PCN submission contains the product’s chemical composition, hazard classification, usage instructions, packaging information, and recommended first-aid measures. This data is crucial for effective emergency response.

Question: Are professional-use vehicle care products also subject to these requirements?

Answer: Yes. If a vehicle care product is classified as hazardous, it must be registered with a PCN, regardless of whether it’s intended for consumer or professional use.

Question: What penalties apply if a company fails to submit a PCN?

Answer: Non-compliance can lead to legal repercussions, including fines, product recalls, or restrictions on selling the product within the EU until the PCN requirement is met.

Question: Who is responsible for submitting the PCN?

Answer: The manufacturer, importer, or distributor placing the product on the EU market is typically responsible for filing the PCN if the product meets the hazardous criteria.

Question: When did the PCN requirement become mandatory for hazardous products?

Answer: The requirement took effect on January 1, 2021, in accordance with the EU CLP regulation for chemical mixtures.

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.