Scope of Poison Centre Notification

Mixtures required to be notified to Poison Centres

Poison Centre Notification is only required for mixtures, and is not required for substances.

The exact definition is: “mixtures classified as hazardous on the basis of their health or physical effects“.

It is not clear whether this definition refers only to CLP-GHS hazards, or whether is includes mixtures which do not have these hazards but do have EUH health hazards only, e.g. mixtures which contain sensitisers so that EUH208 is applied to the label, but there are no H statements.  (TT Environmental have asked the HSE this question, and are currently waiting to hear back, July 2017).

Some mixtures are exempted from notification:

• mixtures for scientific research and development
• mixtures for Product and Process Oriented Research and Development (PPORD), as defined in Article 3(22) of REACH
• if a mixture is only classified as gas under pressure
• mixtures classified as explosives (Unstable Explosive, and Explosive Divisions 1.1 to 1.6)

Information to be notified

• Identification of the mixture and of the submitter
  • Product identifier of the mixture (complete trade name), and the UFI (note that the “contains” information from the label is not required)
  • Details of the submitter, consistent with the product label
  • Telephone number and email address for rapid access to additional product information (note that the telephone number must be available 24 x 7)
• Hazards identification and additional information
  • Classification of the mixture for health and physical hazards (the regulation states hazard class and category)
  • Label elements, that is hazard pictogram codes; signal word; hazard statement codes, including EUH statements; precautionary statement codes
  • Toxicological information, as per Section 11 of the SDS
  • Additional information:
    • type and size(s) of packaging used to place on the market for consumer or professional use
    • colour(s) and physical state(s) of the mixture as supplied
    • pH, where applicable
    • product categorisation
    • use, whether consumer, professional, industrial or a combination of any of these
• Information on mixture components
  • General requirements – the chemical identity and concentration of components (exact percentages are required for some health hazards, ranges are permissible for other hazards, see the amending regulation for further details).
  • Mixture components (whether hazardous or non hazardous)
    • substances require the product identifiers (chemical name, CAS number, EC number)
    • mixtures in the mixture also require the product identifiers (trade name, UFI), and concentration o mixture components
    • both types of component require their hazard classification

Grouping mixtures

It is possible to group similar mixtures together, including families of products with the same classification; or products which only vary due to perfumes or fragrance variations.  This should save time and effort where you have a large product range.

Limited information for industrial use only mixtures

Limited information can be provided for industrial use only mixtures, see the amending regulation for further details.