Poison Centre Notifications (PCN) – What they are and how they are submitted
Sections in this Guide
Introduction to Poison Centre Notifications (PCNs)
Before a chemical mixture can be sold or supplied within the EU, certain safety details must be made available to national poison centres.
This process is known as a Poison Centre Notification (PCN) and is a requirement under Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation.
The notification provides poison centres with essential information to support medical professionals in the event of accidental exposure or misuse.
Only an EU-based company – such as an importer or an Authorised Representative acting on behalf of a non-EU manufacturer – can make this submission through the ECHA Submission Portal.
If you produce or supply hazardous mixtures from outside the EU, you’ll need to appoint an Authorised Representative to complete this process for you.
Once your Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is ready, preparing the PCN is often the next step toward full CLP compliance.
What is a Poison Centre Notification (PCN)?
A Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is the formal submission of detailed product information to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
It ensures that emergency responders across the EU have immediate access to accurate details about hazardous mixtures placed on the market.
The notification applies to mixtures classified for health or physical hazards – including detergents, coatings, adhesives, cleaning agents, and other industrial or consumer products.
Each notification is submitted through the ECHA Submission Portal, either by the EU-based importer or the manufacturer’s appointed Authorised Representative.
When is a PCN Required?
A Poison Centre Notification must be submitted before a hazardous mixture is placed on the EU or EEA market.
This applies to most consumer and professional mixtures that carry health or physical hazard classifications under CLP.
You’ll need a PCN in situations such as:
- Introducing a new hazardous product to the market
- Reformulating an existing mixture
- Changing a product’s trade name or packaging
- Modifying concentration ranges that affect classification
If you are a non-EU manufacturer, you cannot submit directly to the ECHA portal.
Instead, your appointed Authorised Representative (or EU-based importer) must make the notification on your behalf, ensuring your product can be legally sold within the EU.
Whenever a mixture changes in composition or hazard classification, the PCN must be updated to reflect the current information.
What Information Is Included in a PCN?
A notification includes a detailed set of data that allows poison centres to identify the product and provide medical guidance quickly and accurately.
The main information categories include:
- Product identifiers: trade name and UFI (Unique Formula Identifier)
- Supplier details: name, contact information, and Authorised Representative (if applicable)
- Mixture composition: substances and their concentration ranges
- Hazard classification: based on the product’s SDS
- Intended uses: consumer, professional, or industrial
- Packaging information: type, size, and colour
- Toxicological details and exposure routes
- SDS reference: document version or link
Accurate and consistent data is essential.
Information submitted in the PCN must align with your Safety Data Sheet (SDS), as discrepancies can cause delays or rejections by Member States.
How a PCN is Submitted
The PCN process is managed through the ECHA Submission Portal.
Only companies established within the EU – or an appointed Authorised Representative – can access this system and complete the notification.
Here’s an overview of how the process works:
- Appoint an EU Authorised Representative if you are based outside the EU.
They will act as your notifier and handle the PCN submission.
- Generate a UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) using ECHA’s UFI Generator Tool.
- Prepare your mixture data, drawing on details from your SDS.
- Access the ECHA Submission Portal and select the relevant Member States where the product will be placed on the market.
- Upload the PCN file (in IUCLID format) containing all required product information.
- Submit the notification and retain confirmation of submission.
- Update the PCN whenever the product or SDS is revised.
The Authorised Representative ensures the submission remains valid and compliant across all Member States where the product is sold.
How SDS and PCN Work Together
Your Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides the foundation for a compliant PCN submission.
Most of the data used in a PCN – such as composition, classification, and toxicological details – is taken directly from the SDS.
Keeping both documents consistent is essential for compliance and for ensuring accurate emergency information.
While the SDS is primarily aimed at professional users and downstream handlers, the PCN ensures that emergency responders have immediate access to the same safety data in case of accidental exposure.
If your product changes, both the SDS and the PCN should be updated at the same time to reflect the new information.
Learn more about preparing an SDS correctly on our How to Produce an SDS Sheet
UK Poison Centre Notifications (PCN)
Since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, poison centre notifications must now be made separately through the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).
The UK system follows similar principles to the EU process but operates independently of the ECHA portal.
If your products are placed on both the EU and UK markets, you’ll need to complete two separate notifications:
- One via the ECHA Submission Portal for EU/EEA Member States
- One via the UK submission system, managed by your UK Responsible Person or appointed representative
Ensuring both submissions are aligned helps maintain consistent hazard information across jurisdictions.
Poison Centre Notifications in Northern Ireland (CE + UKNI)
Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland continues to follow EU chemical legislation, including the CLP Regulation and the PCN requirements set out in Annex VIII.
This means that products placed on the market in Northern Ireland must still be notified via the ECHA Submission Portal, not through the UK system.
If your product is sold in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you’ll need to meet both sets of requirements:
- Submit a PCN via ECHA for Northern Ireland (using your UKNI + CE marking setup)
- Submit a UK notification via the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) for Great Britain
In practice, your Authorised Representative can manage both submissions to ensure your product remains compliant in each market.
How Authorised Rep Compliance Can Help
As your EU Authorised Representative, we can manage every stage of the Poison Centre Notification process.
Our services include:
- Generating and registering UFI codes
- Preparing or reviewing your Safety Data Sheet
- Compiling all required mixture information
- Submitting your PCN through the ECHA Submission Portal
- Managing updates and amendments across all Member States
Working with an Authorised Representative ensures that your products remain compliant and that emergency information is always accessible to poison centres across the EU.
If you’re placing chemical mixtures on the EU market and need support with PCN submissions, contact us – we’re here to help simplify the process.
We provide Product Compliance Support and Advice via our sister company at Product Compliance Support.
FAQ – Common PCN Questions
Do all products need a PCN? No. Only mixtures classified as hazardous to human health or for physical effects require a PCN.
Can a non-EU company submit a PCN directly? No. Only an EU-based importer or an appointed Authorised Representative can submit through the ECHA portal.
What happens if I don’t submit a PCN? Hazardous mixtures that have not been notified cannot legally be placed on the market.
Authorities may issue enforcement actions or fines for non-compliance.
Does the same PCN cover multiple countries? Yes. A single submission through the ECHA portal can cover several Member States, as long as each one is selected during the notification process.
Further Reading
For definitions see our page on Classification and Labelling (C&L) Definitions
Read our guide to the CLP Hazard Pictograms
Need a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) follow our guide on How to Produce a Safety Data Sheet
