ECHA Poison Centre Notification (PCN)
We check whether your mixture needs a PCN, then prepare the dossier, UFI code and ECHA portal submission.
- Signed by a qualified safety assessor
- Regulator-ready, or we revise it free
- Delivered in 24, 48 or 72 hours
Trusted by brands including
Service details
Everything included, explained
Quick answer
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is required before a mixture classified as hazardous under the EU CLP Regulation is placed on the EU/EEA market. It gives poison centres the composition and links it to a UFI code on the label. Finished cosmetics are exempt. Our PCN service costs £250, with turnaround quoted on order.
What's included in your PCN service
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Applicability check | We confirm from your SDS and classification whether a PCN is required |
| UFI code | A 16-character Unique Formula Identifier generated for your mixture |
| PCN dossier | Prepared in the harmonised CLP Annex VIII format, with national-language elements where required |
| Submission via the ECHA Submission Portal | To each EU/EEA member state where the mixture is sold |
| Confirmation and label guidance | Your submission record, plus where and how to print the UFI on the label |
| Update support | When the composition, classification or product identity changes |
Who this PCN service is for
- EU/EEA importers and formulators of hazardous mixtures
- Home fragrance brands with hazard-classified products
- Suppliers of hazard-classified fragrance oils and blends
- Manufacturers supplying hazardous bulk mixtures to other businesses
- Non-EU suppliers working with an EU importer
- Businesses unsure whether a product needs a PCN
What this PCN service does not include
- Finished cosmetic products. Cosmetics in their finished state are outside the CLP Regulation (Article 1(5)(c)), so they need no PCN; poison centres receive cosmetic information through the CPNP instead. For EU cosmetics, see EU CPNP notification.
- Mixtures that do not need notifying. Non-hazardous mixtures, mixtures classified only for environmental hazards, and mixtures classified only as gases under pressure or explosives are out of scope. We confirm this before preparing a dossier.
- Taking over your legal duty. The EU/EEA importer or downstream user remains the legal duty holder; we prepare and submit the notification on its behalf.
- Writing your Safety Data Sheet. We work from your current SDS, especially Section 11 (toxicological information).
How it works
- Send your documents Send the full mixture composition, current SDS and the EU/EEA countries where you sell.
- Applicability check We confirm whether the mixture is classified as hazardous for health or physical effects and therefore needs a PCN.
- UFI, dossier and submission We generate the UFI, build the Annex VIII dossier and submit it through the ECHA Submission Portal.
- Ready to label You receive the submission confirmation and guidance on printing the UFI on your label.
What is a Poison Centre Notification (PCN)?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is the submission that EU/EEA importers and downstream users must make before placing on the market a mixture classified as hazardous for health or physical effects. It is required by Article 45 and Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and is made through ECHA's Submission Portal. Poison centres use the information to give emergency treatment advice after an exposure.
Each notified mixture has a UFI code (Unique Formula Identifier): a 16-character code printed on the label that links the product to its notification. We check whether your product needs a PCN, then prepare the dossier, generate the UFI code and submit the notification for you.
Does your product need a PCN?
A PCN is needed when:
- The product is a mixture — not a single substance or an article.
- It is classified as hazardous for health or physical effects under CLP, for example as a skin sensitiser, eye irritant or flammable liquid.
- It is placed on the EU/EEA market by an importer or downstream user, for consumer, professional or industrial use.
A PCN is not needed for:
- Finished cosmetic products — excluded from CLP by Article 1(5)(c). Their information reaches poison centres through the CPNP under Article 13(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
- Non-hazardous mixtures, and mixtures classified only for environmental hazards.
- Mixtures classified only as gases under pressure or explosives.
What this means for beauty and fragrance businesses:
Hair dyes, nail products and cosmetic aerosols sold as finished cosmetics are outside PCN scope. Hazard-classified products that are not cosmetics can be in scope, such as reed diffuser liquids, room sprays and fragrance oils, as can cosmetic bulk supplied unfinished to another business.
Compliance dates:
Notifications in the Annex VIII format have been required for consumer and professional-use mixtures since 1 January 2021 and for industrial-use mixtures since 1 January 2024. The transition period for mixtures notified under older national systems ended on 1 January 2025.
The UFI code:
The UFI is created with ECHA's UFI Generator from the duty holder's VAT number or company key and a formulation number. It must be printed on the label, usually near the hazard pictograms, and the same UFI must appear in the submitted notification. Printing a UFI without a submitted notification does not meet the requirement.
Who is legally responsible:
The duty holder must be an importer or downstream user established in the EU/EEA. A non-EU supplier cannot be the duty holder, but can supply information to its EU importer or use an EU-based third party to submit. As an EU-established consultancy, we prepare and submit notifications on the duty holder's behalf, and your formula stays confidential: the UFI itself reveals nothing about the recipe.
What we need from you
- Full mixture composition — every component with its concentration.
- Your current SDS — especially Section 11 toxicological information.
- Product name(s) and packaging details — including pack sizes.
- Intended use and product category — consumer, professional or industrial.
- Target markets — the EU/EEA countries you sell into.
- Duty holder details — the EU/EEA company name and VAT number used to generate the UFI.
Legal framework
- CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Article 45 — importers and downstream users placing hazardous mixtures on the market must submit information to the appointed bodies (poison centres).
- CLP Annex VIII — the harmonised notification format and the UFI, added by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/542.
- CLP Article 1(5)(c) — finished cosmetic products are outside the scope of CLP.
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 13(6) — cosmetic notification data from the CPNP is made available to poison centres.
- ECHA Submission Portal — the central route for submitting PCN dossiers to member states.
Official sources:
- Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) (EUR-Lex)
- Poison centres — European Commission
- ECHA Poison Centres website
- ECHA UFI Generator
Why brands choose Phoenix for Poison Centre Notifications
- We check before you pay for work you do not need — applicability confirmed against your classification and SDS
- Clear on cosmetics — we tell you when a product is a finished cosmetic and needs the CPNP, not a PCN
- EU-established filer — we can prepare and submit on behalf of your EU/EEA duty holder
- Dossiers checked against ECHA's validation rules before submission
- Regulator-ready or we revise it free — our compliance guarantee
- Trusted by 1,400+ brands over 14 years, including The Beard Struggle, The Essence Vault, Parfum Fabric and Junaid Jamshed
Start your Poison Centre Notification today. Order above, or message us on WhatsApp on +44 7346 009332 if you are not sure whether your product needs a PCN.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Poison Centre Notification (PCN)?
A PCN is a submission, made through ECHA's Submission Portal, that gives EU poison centres the composition and hazards of a mixture classified as hazardous for health or physical effects. Article 45 and Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation require it.
Do I need a PCN for my product?
You need a PCN if your product is a mixture, classified as hazardous for health or physical effects under CLP, and placed on the EU/EEA market. Non-hazardous mixtures and finished cosmetics do not need one.
Do cosmetics need a Poison Centre Notification?
No. Finished cosmetic products are outside the CLP Regulation under Article 1(5)(c), so they need no PCN. Poison centres receive cosmetic information through the CPNP instead. Unfinished cosmetic bulk supplied to another business can still fall under CLP.
What is a UFI code and how do I get one?
A UFI is a 16-character Unique Formula Identifier printed on the label of a notified mixture. It is generated with ECHA's UFI Generator from the duty holder's VAT number or company key and must match the submitted notification.
Can a non-EU company submit a PCN?
A non-EU company cannot be the duty holder; that is the EU/EEA importer or downstream user. Non-EU suppliers can share information with their importer or use an EU-based third party, such as us, to submit.
What do you need from me?
Your full mixture composition, current SDS (especially Section 11), product names and packaging, intended use, the EU/EEA countries you sell into, and the duty holder's company details and VAT number.
How much does a PCN cost and how long does it take?
Our PCN service costs £250. Turnaround is quoted when you order, because it depends on how complete your SDS and composition data are and how many member states you sell into.