The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) is the body appointed under Article 45 of the GB CLP Regulation to receive information on hazardous mixtures. NHS and other healthcare professionals use it to advise on treatment when someone is harmed by a chemical. Article 45 concerns mixtures classified as hazardous for their health or physical effects.
Who can send information, and when
Nothing in Article 45 requires you to send NPIS information about mixtures you place on the market in Great Britain, unless the Secretary of State makes regulations that do. There is no set date, but sending the sheet before you first supply a mixture means NPIS holds it if anyone is harmed.
Submitting to NPIS does not replace your other duties under the GB CLP Regulation, such as classification, labelling and safety data sheets.
How to send a safety data sheet
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Get the current safety data sheet ready
Use the SDS for the mixture, ideally as a PDF, though a Word file is acceptable. If you have already generated a unique formula identifier (UFI) for the product, make sure it is clearly visible on the front page. No UFI is needed for Great Britain, but NPIS will register the product with one.
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Check the emergency telephone number
The number in section 1.4 should be one that users can call. Do not give the NPIS helpline there unless you state that it is only for healthcare professionals and you also give a number for the public.
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Email it to NPIS
Send it to sds.npis@nhs.net. Uploading it to MySDS does not notify NPIS, so send it directly.
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Keep the acknowledgement
NPIS replies by email and gives you a named contact. There is no charge. An official certificate of notification costs an administrative fee, but you do not have to buy one.
What happens after you send it
NPIS adds the sheet to its product data centre, which its staff can search at any hour. The certificate and the acknowledgement only confirm that NPIS received your SDS. They have no bearing on whether you may sell the product in the UK.
NPIS works with manufacturers to keep the data it holds up to date, so send the revised SDS whenever you issue one.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Official guidance
NPIS: frequently asked questions for industry (opens in a new tab)
www.npis.org
NPIS: submitting information (opens in a new tab)
www.npis.org · Great Britain
The GB CLP Regulation - NPIS arrangements (HSE) (opens in a new tab)
HSE · Great Britain
National Poisons Information Service - submitting information (HSE) (opens in a new tab)
HSE · Great Britain
Submitting chemicals information to the National Poisons Information Service (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK
Chemical classification, labelling and packaging (opens in a new tab)
HSE · Great Britain