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The new European poison center: curse or blessing?

Companies wishing to place chemical products on the European market often have to deal with it: the notification of hazardous substances and mixtures to national poison centers.

This is stipulated in Article 45 of Regulation EC 1272/2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures, often referred to as the CLP Regulation. Article 45 states that each EU member state must have a body where information on hazardous mixtures is collected. Companies are required to make this information available to the relevant poison centers. Through the national poisoning center, medical responders always have access to the essential information in case of accidents involving such products in order to act quickly and appropriately.

Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation EC 1272/2008.

Until recently, the CLP Regulation did not specify the exact type of information to be made available. As a result, each member state used its own notification procedure. For companies, this led to a complex situation with a lot of uncertainty about the procedures to be followed in the various EU member states.

With the revision of the CLP Regulation on January 1, 2020, this ambiguity will be resolved. From then on, the new Annex VIII will enter into force. This annex provides for the harmonization of product information that companies must submit to poison control centers. Moreover, through a portal managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), companies can submit this information for all EU member states simultaneously at one central point. For this purpose, ECHA is introducing the Poison Centre Notification Portal (PCN Portal).

Unique Formula Identification

Another important change in the notification process is the introduction of the Unique Formula Identification (UFI). Each mixture, or group of mixtures requiring notification, must be assigned a UFI. Companies can generate this UFI themselves in an ECHA-managed portal. The UFI is unique to each mixture and must appear on the product label. This should allow for faster identification of a product, allowing for faster retrieval of required product information.

Curse or blessing?

Although the European harmonization of product information leads to a simplification of notification to poison centers, the new system also has a downside. For example, every time a formula is changed, a new UFI must be requested and the label changed. In addition, the product information required is more detailed than before.

Important dates

The amended CLP regulation does not take effect simultaneously for all types of products. The following effective dates apply by product group:

  • Jan. 1, 2020: consumer products
  • Jan. 1, 2021: products for professional use
  • Jan. 1, 2024: products for industrial use
  • Jan. 1, 2025: products previously notified (end of transition period).

Need support?

Are you looking for a partner who can support you in the notification of substances to the European Poisoning Centers? Or do you need a party to answer your questions about the new notification system? Précon Quality Services can assist you with this. Please contact us at +31 (0)30 - 65 66 010 or info@precongroup.com. You will then receive our free quote for content advice.

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