Submitting information on hazardous mixtures to poison centres
Importers and downstream users have a legal obligation to submit information to poison centres when placing hazardous mixtures on the EU market. The obligation applies to mixtures that are classified as hazardous on the basis of their health and physical effects. The mixtures are subject to the submission obligations under Article 45 and Annex VIII of the European CLP Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008). The company that is required to submit the notification according to Annex VIII, has to make sure that this information is submitted to all the Member States in which the mixture is placed on the market.
As stated in article 4(10), all operators in the supply chain have the obligation to make sure that the mixtures they place on the market are in compliance with CLP as a whole. This means that also distributors (in particular rebranders/relabellers or companies distributing a mixture in another Member State) may need to submit the information themselves if the relevant information is not included in a submission made by the supplier.
Poison Centre notifications to the Finnish Poison Information Centre are made through the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) Submission Portal. Furthermore, a Chemical Notification shall still be made in addition to the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency for other purposes. The requirements are laid down in the National Chemicals Act 711/2020.
Poison Centre Notification (PCN) – when and how?
Since 1 January 2021 harmonized reporting is required for mixtures for consumer and professional use before placing them on the market. As of 2024, the same applies for mixtures for industrial use. If you have already notified your mixture at national level, you can benefit from a transitional period. A transitional period can be utilized for all products that are previously notified to the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency and which are already on the market. Such notifications will remain valid until 1 January 2025 or until changes are made to the product. If you need to update your notification during this period, you must meet the new harmonized reporting requirements. A notification complying with Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation must be submitted via the ECHA Submission Portal if any changes are introduced to the mixture composition, product identifiers, toxicological properties or classification of an existing mixture.
The information required in the notifications is listed in Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation. Submissions should be made in the harmonised format and the following information is required in the notifications:
- product identifier,
- details of the downstream user or importer,
- classification of the mixture for health and physical hazards,
- information included in the label,
- information about toxicity, and
- information on mixture components and generic product identifiers.
UFI (Unique Formula Identifier)
Each mixture will have a Unique Formula Identifier (UFI), which the downstream user or importer generates using an application on ECHA’s website before submitting the notification. UFI is a unique 16-digit alphanumeric code that unambiguously links the submitted information on a mixture to a specific product placed on the market.
There is no charge for registering UFIs. The UFI must be mentioned in the PCN and shown on the product label or in its immediate vicinity. Mixtures for industrial use and unpackaged mixtures are an exception; including the UFI in the chemical safety data sheet is sufficient.
A Chemical Notification to the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency
In the past, submitting information to the Finnish Poison Information Centre was possible together with the Chemical Notification, but as of 1 January 2021, it requires a separate notification. Companies should still use a Chemical Notification to submit information on the chemical they have placed on the market to the authority. The notification shall be made using the online system KemiDigi.
More information: Submitting information on chemicals | Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes)
More information
- e-Learning - Poisoncentres - ECHA (europa.eu)
- Guidance on harmonised information relating to emergency health response - ECHA (europa.eu)
- Questions and Answers - Poisoncentres - ECHA (europa.eu)
For the latest information, instructions and tools/applications, visit the Poison Centres website.
