What is a poison centre?
Poison centres play an important role in the safe use of chemicals. They formulate preventive and curative measures in case of poisoning accidents. They provide medical advice to general consumers and physicians on health emergencies arising from exposure to hazardous chemicals or to other toxic agents.
Poison centres in the EU answer on average
600 000 calls for support each year. Roughly half of the cases are related to accidental exposures involving children.
Under Article 45 of the CLP Regulation, economic operators placing certain hazardous mixtures on the market have to provide information to national appointed bodies. This information is used by poison centres.
This website is established by the European Chemicals Agency to host the tools and format to support the submission of information by companies to the appointed bodies and poison centres.
- 5 April 2016 EU Commission is finalising its proposal for the harmonisation of information according to Art. 45 CLP This is the result of a long process started in 2010 with the consultation of stakeholders, appointed bodies, poison centres and Member States competent authorities. The regulation is expected to be published in early autumn 2016.