Poison Centre Notifications: What you need to know

As part of the ongoing effort to enhance safety and provide key information in the event of a chemical emergency, the European Union has introduced new requirements for the Poison Centre notification (PCN) under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) framework. These changes are essential to ensure that relevant authorities can quickly access vital information in case of poisoning or hazardous exposure.

What’s New?

As of January 1, 2025, all businesses manufacturing or importing hazardous mixtures into the European Union are required to submit a PCN for certain hazardous products. The notification must include detailed data about the chemical mixture’s composition, toxicological profiles, and appropriate emergency measures to assist poison control centres.

Key Requirements

1. Who Needs to Comply?
• Manufacturers and importers of hazardous mixtures within the EU are subject to these requirements.
• Non-EU companies can carry out voluntary submissions of hazardous mixtures as a measure to supply the full composition data to the authorities while maintaining confidentiality.
• Companies must notify the relevant authorities in each EU Member State where their products are marketed.
2. What Needs to be Submitted?
• Detailed information on the chemical composition of mixtures;
• Hazardous properties and the potential effects on human health and the environment; and
• Specific product identifiers, such as the product’s name, labelling, and unique identifiers (e.g., the Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) code).
3. New Notification Process:
• Notifications should be submitted via the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Poison Centre Notification Portal.
• The submission must be done prior to placing the product on the market.
• The new format for notification is harmonized and follows the structure defined by the latest GHS/CLP revisions.
4. Deadlines:
• For substances already on the market, the notification deadline was set for January 1, 2025, for the first wave of affected chemicals.
• For new products or imports, the notification must be done before market entry.
5. Impact on Labelling:
• Once a notification is completed, the product’s packaging must reflect the required information, including the UFI code and emergency response details.
• Affected products will need to update their labels to comply with these new requirements.

Why is This Important?

These changes align the EU with international safety standards, particularly the GHS, and streamline emergency response protocols across Member States. By submitting the PCNs, you are helping ensure swift medical assistance in the event of chemical exposure and maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

How Can We Assist You?

At CIRS, we understand that ensuring compliance with these new regulations may seem overwhelming. We offer services to guide you through the notification process, help you prepare the necessary documentation, and manage submissions to ECHA’s portal.

If you have any questions or would like assistance with understanding how these requirements apply to your products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us service@cirs-group.com. 

Further Information

EU PCN Notifications Under Strict Review: Key Requirements for Compliance