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To be able to take correct and well-informed decisions in emergencies, the EU poison centres need correct information about hazardous mixtures. Suppliers are therefore required to submit detailed information about their hazardous mixtures to the ECHA, which then passes it on to the poison centres. Known as poison centre notification (PCN), this information details, the composition and toxicology, colour, trade name and packaging of individual products as well as their UFI – a unique 16-digit formula identifier.

Now the ECHA plans to check whether manufacturers, importers and downstream users placing hazardous mixtures on the market are fulfilling their PCN obligations. Among other aspects, the national enforcement authorities in the individual EU member states will check whether the required notifications have been submitted and whether labels and safety data sheets are available and correct. The project will start in January 2025 and continue for six months.

Support for manufacturers, importers and distributors

The services provided by TÜV SÜD support parties placing hazardous mixtures on the market with the correct implementation of the legal requirements. “At present, we are seeing a major backlog, particularly with respect to hazardous mixtures for commercial use that are distributed through online platforms”, says Rupert Scherer, EU chemicals regulation expert at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. Third-country manufacturers are especially cautious about passing on their trade secrets to importers or downstream users.

To accommodate these concerns yet still submit all necessary information to the ECHA or the poison centres, manufacturers can also rely on the services of a third-party representative such as TÜV SÜD. “Acting in the role of an independent and expert third party, we collect the required information and submit the PCN to the ECHA“, explains Scherer. “Importers and distributors can then simply reference our PCN.“ By opting for this approach, importers and distributors can fulfil their notification obligations while manufacturers can protect their trade secrets, because only the poison centres obtain detailed information.

Further information about TÜV SÜD services in this area can be found at www.tuvsud.com/en/industries/chemical-and-process/poison-center-notification.