The UFI code (Unique Formula Identifier) is a mandatory labelling element for mixtures that pose health or physical hazards. Since 2021, it has been widely used on chemical products placed on the EU market. However, a common question arises: can the UFI code alone be used to check whether a given mixture has been notified to the appropriate Poison Centres (PCN)? Or in which countries it has been notified?

The answer is: no.

🔒 UFI code – an identifier, not a registry

 

Although the UFI code is unique and assigned to a specific chemical mixture, it does not allow verification of whether a PCN notification has been submitted. Currently, there are no publicly available databases or tools that enable verification of notification status based solely on the UFI code.

What’s more, even ECHA does not offer such functionality in its portal – notification data is only accessible to the notifying parties (or their representatives) via their account in the ECHA Submission Portal, and of course to the relevant authorities.

It may therefore happen that even though a product label shows a UFI code, the code is essentially "empty" – meaning no actual notification has been submitted. And even if notification has been made, we have no certainty as to which countries – this is an additional aspect to keep in mind.

🌍 It’s also impossible to check in which countries the product has been notified

 

The UFI code itself does not contain any information about the EU Member States where the notification was submitted. A given UFI may be notified in one, several, or all EU countries – but this cannot be determined based on the UFI code alone.

Information about the geographical scope of the notification (e.g. whether the product was notified only in Germany and not in France) remains confidential and is available only to the notifying party.

🧾 The only way: obtain confirmation from the supplier

 

If you are an importer, distributor or end user and need to confirm that a product has been properly notified in a given country, the only way is to contact the supplier and obtain written confirmation that the PCN notification has been made.

It is recommended that such confirmation include:

• the country of notification,

• the date of notification,

• the UFI code,

• the submission number (if assigned by the system).

•  

✅ What does this mean in practice?

 

🔹 You cannot verify on your own whether a product with a UFI code has been notified – you must rely on the information provided by the supplier.

🔹 The presence of a UFI code without actual notification may represent a serious breach of regulations – and liability may also fall on the distributor.

🔹 It is good practice to document notification confirmation – especially if the product is distributed to multiple Member States.

🔹 During inspections, authorities may request evidence of notification – the UFI code alone is not sufficient.

📌 Summary

 

The UFI code is an important tool for identifying mixtures, but it does not grant access to PCN notification data. There are no public tools to verify notifications. Therefore, responsible actors in the supply chain should make sure to obtain clear confirmations from their suppliers that notification obligations have been fulfilled – in the appropriate geographical scope.