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PCN & UFI
PCN notification of hazardous mixtures according to CLP
The unified PCN format is used to notify hazardous mixtures in all EU Member States. It is based on Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation. You must submit the notification via the ECHA Submission Portal. This ensures that healthcare professionals have quick access to information about the product’s hazards in case of accidents.
From 1 January 2025, you must use the PCN format for all mixtures you place on the market that are hazardous to human health (H3XX) or pose a physical hazard (H2XX).
Who has to submit a PCN notification
Importer
Imports a mixture into the European Economic Area. This includes EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Downstream user
Produces own mixture, transfers the product to own containers or changes the product label.
Toll formulator
A company that manufactures a product on behalf of another company.
Distributor
Purchases the product and sells it without any modification. Must verify whether the product is notified in the state where it is placed on the market. If not, the notification must be completed.
What needs to be notified
The notification concerns all mixtures classified as hazardous to human health (H3XX) or posing physical hazards (H2XX).
Products for CONSTRUCTION
paints and varnishes, sealants, adhesives, plasters, and asphalt mixtures
Products for ENGINEERING
lubricants, oils, car cosmetics and chemicals, rust and bolt releasers
Products for AGRICULTURE
industrial fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
Products for HOUSEHOLDS
detergents, washing powders, air fresheners, and fragrances
Products for WATER TREATMENT
pool chemistry, aquarium water treatment, drinking water treatment
Products for E-CIGARETTES
disposable cigarettes, liquid refills for electronic cigarettes
When notification is not required
The PCN notification does not apply to safe mixtures or mixtures considered hazardous only to the environment. It also does not apply to mixtures from the following categories:
Cosmetics
Mixtures classified only as gases
Pharmaceuticals
Mixtures subject to customs supervision
Veterinary preparations
Mixtures used in scientific research and development
Food and feed
Radioactive mixtures
Which tools can I use for the notification
You can create and submit a PCN notification using various tools. Regardless of the method you choose, the notification must always be in PCN format and comply with the requirements of Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation.
SOFTWARE SBLCore
In the SBLCore software, you create a PCN notification directly from the information in the safety data sheet. The software also checks whether the notification contains all mandatory information, and thanks to the S2S connection, it can be submitted directly to the ECHA portal without the need for manual upload.
More about the software
SOFTWARE IUCLID
IUCLID is software from the ECHA agency, available in both online and offline versions. The information for the notification is entered manually. Once the notification is completed, it is uploaded to the ECHA portal.
What must the notification contain
Trade name of the product
Type and size of packaging
UFI code
(UFI generator)
Target group
(consumer, professional, industry)
Destination countries and notification languages
Intended use
(using the EuPCS catalogue)
Ingredients and their concentrations
(min. 70% composition of the mixture)
Physical values
(state, colour and pH value)
Product classification and labeling
Toxicological information
How to proceed with the notification
Register in the ECHA portal
Follow the detailed guide below. After registration, create a legal entity. This allows ECHA to link the notification to your company. Without an active account, you cannot create or submit notifications.
Set up a numbering system and create a UFI
UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) is a code that must appear in both the notification and on the product label. It is created from the company’s VAT number and an internal numeric mixture code. Therefore, set up a clear numbering system. Each formulation must have its own code and its own UFI. To generate the UFI, you can use publicly available web generators.
Create a notification
The notification is created in PCN format. ECHA provides its own software, IUCLID, for creating notifications. Additionally, you can use other software solutions such as SBLCore, which enables direct connection to the ECHA portal and automatic submission of notifications. The chosen tool can significantly impact the speed and convenience of the entire process.
Check additional requirements
Before submitting the notification, carefully review all data. On the ECHA portal, you can validate the file and detect formal errors before submission. The same check can be done in the SBLCore software, even before exporting the notification. After the check, submit the notification. Remember that some states may charge additional fees.
Manage and update your notifications
A PCN notification is not a one-time task. If the product composition, UFI or toxicological data change, you must update the notification.
How to register in the portal
Go to ECHA Cloud Services and click the “Register” button.
Fill in user details: first name, last name, email, username and password. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*). Then click “Create User”.
You will receive an email with a confirmation link. Click the link and log in using your username and password.
In the Dashboard section, click “Create new Industry Legal Entity”, fill in the company details and confirm by clicking “Create”. This completes the company registration in ECHA Cloud Services.
You can create a PCN notification in the “IUCLID” tool found in the ECHA Cloud Services section, or upload a ready-made notification in the ECHA Submission Portal.
If another user or company should manage the profile, open the “Legal Entity” section and go to the “Users” tab. Click “Add foreign user” in the top right corner, enter the new user’s details and assign the necessary permissions.
In our video you can also find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to register.
PLAY VIDEOCurrently, there is no public search where you can check via the UFI whether a product has been notified and for which countries. Each company has access only to its own notifications.
If you need this information, contact the supplier of the product and ask them to confirm the notification for the country where the product is being placed on the market.
If you are a company from a non-EU country, you can prepare a PCN notification in the ECHA Cloud Services application. However, you do not have access to the ECHA Submission Portal and therefore cannot submit the notification yourself.
The notification must be submitted by an EU-based representative on your behalf. Alternatively, you can contact a consultancy company.
Many products are based on water or another carrier. If you don’t know the full composition, you can easily supplement it this way. If the detailed composition is not available, you can include a so-called MiM (mixture in mixture) in the notification. The condition is that the UFI of this mixture has been notified for the country to which you are submitting the notification.
A UFI is a 16-character alphanumeric code. It is based on the company’s VAT number (or company key) and a composition code that you choose yourself. This code is used only to distinguish between products – it is not an officially assigned number or data provided by an authority.
You create a UFI using a freely available algorithm or an online generator. Creating and assigning it is free of charge.
No, the composition of the mixture cannot be determined from the UFI alone. While the UFI can be decoded, it only reveals the company’s VAT number (or company key) and a numerical composition code. It does not contain information on specific substances or their concentrations.
Limited submission is used for mixtures that are not subject to PCN notification or for mixtures intended solely for use at industrial sites, from which they do not proceed further along the supply chain. The condition is that the company placing the product on the market ensures uninterrupted access (24/7) to information on the product’s hazards via a contact point.
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