WHAT IS A POISON CENTRE NOTIFICATION (PCN) AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COMPANIES TO COMPLY?

Content addition date : 28-05-2025

Poison Centre Notifications (PCN) are prepared to reduce the health risks of people exposed to certain harmful chemicals and to ensure that they receive the right emergency health intervention.

The PCN dossier contains a lot of detailed information about the product in order to provide the right emergency health intervention. It is implemented to provide information about poisoning/damage cases. It ensures that correct, effective and quick action is taken in case of an emergency.

Importance of PCN Notification by Companies:
According to Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, it is obligatory for the company supplying the product to the EU market to have PCN dossier. The product owner company may not want to give the entire formula to the importer company in the EU, which is its customer. In this case, the company exporting to the EU may also prepare a PCN file dossier. It is extremely important that accurate and complete information about the product is stated in the file. There are several reasons for PCN notification.

These reasons are:
► Product Composition Information: PCN provides information about the composition of the product that caused the poisoning/injury. Physicians can quickly determine appropriate treatment methods according to the type of event and the hazardousness of the product.
► Rapid Response: Authorities can quickly access the correct information and take the necessary health safety measures to minimise the effects of the poisoning/damage.
► Right Treatment: It ensures that the correct treatment methods can be determined quickly. This makes it possible for patients to access appropriate treatment as soon as possible in poisoning cases.

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR POISON CENTRE NOTIFICATION (PCN)

Poison Centre Notification (PCN) is critical for the safe placing of hazardous chemical mixtures on the market and ensuring effective response in emergency situations. When making a PCN notification, the chemical composition of the product, packaging, contact details and other information must be provided accurately and completely.
 

This information helps health professionals and authorities make quick and accurate decisions. Here is the basic information required for PCN notification:

► Contact Information: Name, full address, telephone number and e-mail address.
► Applicant Information: Information of the applicant.
► Trade Name of the Product: The name of the product known in the market.
► Field of Use of the Product: For what purpose and where the product will be used.
► Type and Size of Packaging: Type and size of packaging used to place the mixture on the market.
► Unique Formula Identifier (UFI Code): The unique code generated for each chemical mixture.
► Classification Information: Labelling elements (hazard sign, warning word, hazard statements, precautionary statements).
► Toxicological Information: Toxicological properties of the mixture.
► pH Information: pH value of the mixture.

This information is essential to ensure a rapid and effective response in cases of poisoning. Providing accurate and complete information helps health professionals and authorities to determine the most appropriate treatment methods. This process enables the safe release of chemical mixtures and effective response in emergency situations.

You can contact CRAD Chemical Risk Assessment team for our PCN dossier preparation services and detailed information.