Belgium Sets New Fee System for Poison Centre Notifications

By Klaudia Sostaric, MSc, Senior Regulatory Specialist, Supply Chain Team, UL Solutions

Belgium has announced a revised payment system for poison center notifications (PCNs), applicable to all submissions made from Jan. 1, 2026, onward. This marks a significant change in how hazardous mixture notifications are managed and financed in the Belgian market.

Regulatory background

Before any hazardous mixture can be placed on the Belgian market, suppliers - whether manufacturers, downstream users, importers, or, in specific cases, distributors - must submit the required information either through ECHA’s PCN Portal or directly to the Belgian Poison Centre. These notifications must be submitted at least 48 hours prior to making the product available, in accordance with Annex VIII of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

Belgium is among the EU Member States that apply fees for PCN submissions made by duty holders. Notifications submitted before Jan. 1, 2026, will continue to follow the existing fee structure, which applies a single fee per mixture or per group of equivalent mixtures.

Shift to an annual fee structure

Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium will implement a new system with annual fees for hazardous mixture notifications. The annual fee will be calculated based on the total number of mixtures notified within a calendar year and will be invoiced by the FPS Public Health in the following year. For example, if a supplier notifies 30 mixtures at any point during 2026, the corresponding fee for those 30 mixtures will be invoiced and due in early 2027.

The annual fee will be determined according to the following tiered structure:

Although this is a one-time fee, if the composition of a previously notified hazardous mixture changes in a way that requires an update under Annex VIII to the CLP, the mixture shall be treated as a new mixture, and the corresponding fee must also be paid.

This new approach is intended to simplify administrative procedures and reduce the overall cost burden for businesses, particularly those introducing multiple mixtures to the market.

Late-payment penalties

The new system also introduces a financial penalty for non-compliance with payment deadlines. If the fee is not paid by the due date indicated in the administration’s first payment reminder, the amount will be automatically increased by 20%. This emphasizes the importance of proactive invoice monitoring and timely response.

Impact on businesses

While Belgium’s revised fee system aims to reduce notification costs and ease entry into the market, it also requires companies to implement stronger internal tracking of:

• the number of mixtures placed on the Belgian market each year
• related notification obligations
• invoice issuance and payment deadlines

Companies managing large and frequently changing product portfolios will particularly benefit from reviewing their internal processes to ensure compliance and avoid late payment penalties.

References

FPS Public Health
Royal Decree of July 2, 2025 
CLP Regulation