The European Poison Information Centres

The European Poison Information Centres constitute a coordinated system within the EU that manages information about chemical products. The purpose is to ensure that healthcare professionals and the public can quickly receive accurate advice in cases of accidents or suspected poisonings. Within the EU, this function operates continuously, providing support and guidance across member states through a unified communication network.

The cooperation is based on Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation (EC No. 1272/2008), adopted in 2017. It introduces harmonised requirements stating that importers and downstream users who place mixtures classified as hazardous to health or physical safety on the EU market must submit product information to the national poison information centres. This submission, called a Poison Centre Notification (PCN), enables authorities and medical staff to rapidly identify a product’s composition in emergency situations. Previously, up to 40% of calls received by poison centres within the EU could not be linked to a specific substance or product—an issue the new rules aim to eliminate.

When a PCN is submitted, each product is assigned a UFI code (Unique Formula Identifier), a unique 16-character code that must appear on the product label. This code serves as a direct link between the physical product and the data stored in the EU’s PCN database. Through this harmonised system, companies, authorities, and healthcare professionals have access to a consistent and efficient flow of information that enhances safety for both people and the environment throughout the European Union.