In a world full of change and uncertainty, there is one thing we can count on: The much-anticipated European Union Poison Centre Notifications are coming.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) originally planned to release the EU PCN on Jan. 1, 2020, but it was delayed. It is now set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, and you can’t afford to miss this first critical compliance deadline.
While there are many questions we can’t answer for you, like “Where is that sock that disappeared from the dryer?” or “How many times can we ask the kids to play hide and seek or watch a YouTube video until the conference call is over? when it comes to your EU PCN questions, we can most definitely help.
1. What will you need to submit come Jan. 1?
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- General information like Unique Formula Identifiers (UFIs), trade names, use types and the submitter’s contact information.
- Hazard information including classification, label elements and toxicological information of the mixture.
- Information on mixture components including concentration, identifiers and classifications.
- Other information like packaging type and size, color and physical state.
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2. What are the compliance dates?
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- Jan. 1, 2021, for mixtures intended for consumer or professional use.
- Jan. 1, 2024, for mixtures intended for industrial use.
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Note: There are no COVID-19-related delays or changes to compliance dates that have been announced.
3. What do I need to know about UFIs?
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- The UFI was created to ensure there is a way to uniquely identify the mixture being supplied. This code is the result of rules that use a company’s value-added tax (VAT) identification number or a company key and a unique formulation number to create a unique UFI code for the product.
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4. Can you update a formulation and still use the same UFI code?
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- Yes. You can update a formulation and still use the same UFI code as long as the change in the concentration of a component in the mixture is within the concentration range provided in the original submission.
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5. Is it possible to update the notification and use the same UFI?
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- Yes. It is possible to provide the same UFI when submitting an update to your PCN dossier as long as the composition of your mixture did not change beyond the concentration range limits specified in the ECHA guideline.
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6. What else do I need to know?
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- You don’t have to figure it alone! The right combination of technology and expertise is the best way to navigate the EU PCN and streamline, simplify and automate your submission process. To learn more watch our on-demand webinar or download our EU PCN brochure.
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Francis Trudeau contributed to this post. He is Sphera’s director of product management for Product Stewardship. He has worked for nearly 20 years in product compliance and chemical management. He has significant experience in solutions management and development, global regulations and industry standards enforced worldwide. He has worked on a wide variety of projects that support Sphera’s integrated information management solutions, and address legal compliance challenges and the implementation of regulations in databases and software applications.