If your product is classified as hazardous and sold in the European Union, it may need to be notified to poison centres through ECHA before it reaches shoppers. We tell you whether the rules apply to you and, if they do, we handle the notification.
What is PCN?
Under Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, importers and downstream users who place hazardous mixtures on the EU market must submit information to appointed poison centres, so that emergency health advice can be given quickly in cases of exposure. Submissions are made through the ECHA Submission Portal, and each mixture is identified by a Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) that also appears on the label.
Does it apply to cosmetics?
Cosmetic products in their finished state for the end user are covered by their own regime under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and, in general, fall outside the CLP labelling and notification requirements. Poison centres receive cosmetic formulation data through the CPNP instead. PCN will, however, apply to hazardous chemical mixtures that are not finished cosmetics, such as cleaning products, professional or industrial mixtures and intermediate products sold to others. We start every engagement by checking which regime applies to your product.
What we do
- Confirm whether your product falls within PCN scope
- Classify the mixture under CLP
- Prepare the product identification and composition information required by Annex VIII
- Generate the UFI and advise on label placement
- Submit the notification through the ECHA Submission Portal
- Update the notification when the formula or classification changes
EU-wide, in one go
A single submission through ECHA's system is distributed to the relevant national poison centres, in the format and language each Member State requires.
What's Included
- Applicability assessment confirming whether your product needs PCN
- UFI generation (16-character Unique Formula Identifier)
- Dossier preparation in ECHA PCN format with validation checks
- Portal submission to relevant EU and EEA Member States
- National-language support where required
- Update assistance when composition or classification changes
Who Is It For?
- Manufacturers placing hazardous mixtures on the EU market
- Importers and downstream users, including those with aerosols, solvent-based products and professional-use items
Why Choose Spectra?
- Qualified assessors: Every document is prepared and reviewed by qualified regulatory and safety professionals, not generated from a template.
- Same standards as Phoenix: Spectra and Phoenix Safety Consultants share the same origin, team expertise and quality process, so you get the same proven service under the Spectra name.
- Fast, flexible turnaround: Choose the delivery speed that fits your launch date, with standard, fast and priority options.
- Joined-up documentation: Everything we produce is consistent with your label, CPSR, PIF and notification, so nothing contradicts anything else.
- Plain-English guidance: You get clear answers and practical next steps, not jargon.
- Confidential formulation: The UFI itself reveals nothing about your recipe.
How It Works
- Send us your product formula and safety data.
- We confirm whether PCN applies to your product.
- We prepare the notification and UFI.
- We submit it through the ECHA portal and send you confirmation.
Delivery Options
Timelines depend on how quickly we receive your formulation and SDS. We confirm the schedule after the applicability assessment.