The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS)
NPIS update
As of 3 February 2022 the arrangements for making submissions to NPIS are under review. Therefore some information on this page is subject to change and will be updated if necessary.
The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) is an organisation, supported by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE), that provides expert advice to healthcare professionals on the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients who may have been poisoned either accidentally or intentionally by consumer products such as:
- biocides
- plant protection products
- veterinary products
- cosmetics
- medicines
The NPIS do not take calls from the general public. In case of a medical emergency following exposure to a chemical, you should contact the NHS.
More information about the NPIS can be found on their website.
Action for product suppliers and authorisation holders
The advice provided to healthcare professionals by the NPIS is based on information that they receive from product suppliers and authorisation holders. Although it is not currently mandatory to provide information to NPIS, we would recommend that suppliers and authorisation holders of biocidal products do so as a matter of good practice. This will allow the NPIS to provide the relevant information to healthcare professionals, so they can deal with any incidents involving biocidal products more effectively.
We recommend that product Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and any updates, are submitted to the NPIS by email at [email protected]. Confirmation of receipt will be provided by a named Specialist in Poisons Information in every case.