Poison centre notification in Belgium
Verified against ECHA’s member state overview ·
Belgium accepts PCN dossiers through the ECHA Submission portal in any of French, Dutch, German or English (with English recommended alongside German), but it is one of the six countries where you cannot ship on validation alone: the mixture may only be placed on the Belgian market after the submission report confirms the Belgian Poison Centre has received the dossier.
Belgium is also one of only three EU/EEA states that charge for notifications. From 1 January 2026 the old flat fees — €200 per initial notification and €35 per significant update — were replaced by an annual tiered fee based on the number of mixtures declared. Budget against the current tier table from the appointed body, not the older figures that still circulate in consultancy blogs.
A quirk worth knowing: the same Belgian Poison Centre also receives declarations for the Luxembourg market under a bilateral arrangement, but the fee applies only to Belgian-market declarations — Luxembourg declarations are free.
What to watch for in Belgium
- Confirmation of receipt required before placing on the Belgian market.
- Fees are levied by the appointed body; the 2026 tiered structure replaced per-notification fees.
- The Belgian Poison Centre also receives Luxembourg-market declarations (free of charge).
The submission itself is the same in every member state that accepts the ECHA route: a PCN dossier in ECHA’s current format, carrying the mixture’s UFI, full composition, and product category. See how to submit a PCN for the process end to end, or compare all 30 countries in the country overview table.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell in Belgium as soon as my PCN passes validation?
No. Belgium requires confirmation of receipt: wait until the ECHA submission report shows the dossier as received by the Belgian appointed body before placing the mixture on the Belgian market.
How much is the Belgian PCN fee in 2026?
Belgium moved to an annual tiered fee on 1 January 2026, scaled by the number of mixtures declared. The previous €200 initial / €35 update flat fees no longer apply — confirm the current tier amounts directly with the Belgian Poison Centre before budgeting.
Which languages does Belgium accept for a PCN?
French, Dutch, German or English. ECHA's member state overview notes that if German is used, English is also recommended.
Sources
- Overview of Member States decisions (MSD) — ECHA, v14, May 2026.
- Appointed bodies list — ECHA, accessed July 2026.
- Harmonised notifications — Belgian fee change — European Coatings, accessed July 2026.