One of the key concerns for chemical manufacturers and formulators is protecting their intellectual property and formulation data while ensuring compliance with Poison Centre Notification (PCN) requirements.
A Voluntary PCN can provide a strategic solution for businesses that want to maintain confidentiality without disrupting their supply chain.
How does a voluntary PCN protect your formula?
When you submit a voluntary PCN, you register the composition details of your product directly with the relevant authorities. This means:
✅ Your confidential formula stays within your control – You don’t have to share full composition details with your customers, distributors, or importers.
✅ Importers get the voluntary UFI they need – By providing your importers with a voluntary UFI, they can fulfill their compliance requirements without needing to see sensitive formulation data.
✅ You reduce the risk of unauthorized disclosure – Unlike when importers create their own PCNs, a voluntary PCN ensures that confidential details remain with the original manufacturer.
Who should consider a voluntary PCN?
A voluntary PCN is ideal for:
- Non-EU manufacturers that want to simplify compliance for their EU customers.
- Companies with proprietary formulations that want to avoid disclosing their ingredients.
Limitations of voluntary PCN
While a voluntary PCN offers protection, it’s important to understand its limits:
❌ Importers still need to submit their own PCNs – A voluntary PCN does not replace a mandatory notification for EEA-based importers.
❌ The UFI cannot be used on product labels – A voluntary UFI is for reference only and does not fulfill legal labeling requirements.
❌ It requires an EEA-based submitting entity – You may need to work with a compliance partner like BENS Consulting to handle the submission.
Is a voluntary PCN the best choice for your business?
If protecting your formulation is a priority and you want to streamline compliance for your importers, a voluntary PCN could be the perfect solution. However, it’s essential to coordinate with your importers to ensure they understand their obligations.
In our next post, we’ll wrap up this series with key takeaways and practical steps to simplify your PCN strategy.
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