Companies exporting PIC-listed chemicals from Great Britain (GB) are required to notify to HSE exports of:
- any chemical listed in Part 1 of the GB PIC list
- mixtures that contain any of these Part 1 chemicals in a concentration that triggers an obligation to label under the GB CLP Regulation
- articles that contain in unreacted form either:
- a chemical listed in Part 2 or Part 3 of the GB PIC list
- mixtures that contain these chemicals in a concentration that triggers labelling obligations under the GB CLP Regulation
Companies should notify their exports to HSE as the GB PIC Designated National Authority (DNA):
- for each substance, mixture or article to each importing country. This applies irrespective of the intended use in the importing country
- at least 35 days before the first export in any calendar year to any importing country. They must then notify at least 35 days before every first export to each importing country in each subsequent calendar year
- by completing a GB PIC export notification
Exports
For exports to the EU, a single notification will cover exports of that product going to any EU member state or supply to Northern Ireland.
A special procedure applies to PIC in the case of an emergency:
- an emergency export notification may be submitted in cases of public health or environmental emergency where delay could worsen the situation in the destination country. The usual requirement to submit the notification 35 days prior to export does not apply, and emergency notifications are not subject to the explicit consent procedure. Please provide further details of the emergency situation with your submission of the export notification form
From 21 May 2026 a Special Reference Identification Number (Special RIN) is no longer required for exports of chemicals for research or analysis in quantities of up to 10 kilograms a year to each importing country and these exports do not need to be notified to HSE.
In addition to notifying exports, companies exporting PIC listed chemicals from GB are obliged to:
- report yearly quantities of each PIC listed chemical exported during the previous calendar year. Find out more about GB PIC annual reporting
- comply with general export requirements - chemicals that are intended for export must be packaged and labelled in the same way as if they were to be marketed in the GB unless the importing country has its own specific requirements, also considering relevant international standards
Companies may also wish to check with the relevant authorities in the importing country whether they have any existing national laws or restrictions for the import of their chemicals into a country.
Explicit consent waivers
For some chemicals the explicit consent of the importing country is required before export can take place, and HSE as the GB PIC DNA seeks this consent on behalf of the exporter. But, in certain circumstances, a valid positive explicit consent response from the importing country can be waived.
Notification process
Great Britain (GB) exporters must notify their exports of PIC listed chemicals by completing aGB PIC export notification form. The forms are similar to those used under the European Union PIC system.
There is GB guidance to help you fill in the PIC export notification form correctly.
You will also need to use the Regulatory outcome information when completing section 6.1 to copy and paste in the relevant information for the chemical you are exporting.
Sending your export notification form
Your completed export notification form must be sent as an attachment by email to the GB PIC Designated National Authority (DNA), which is HSE, at [email protected]. You must also include safety data sheet (SDS) for the chemical or mixture.
More information on safety data sheets.
The subject line of your email must include these details: 'GB PIC - notification - company name – chemical or mixture - importing country name - Year'.
When submitting your export notifications, please attach only one export notification form and accompanying SDS to each email.
In addition to an English SDS, please provide an SDS in the official language of the importing country, if available, or in one of its principal languages.
If you do not attach an SDS then sections 4 and 5 of the export notification form become mandatory.
Forms must be submitted at least 35 days before the first export is due in any calendar year to any importing country.
After you have sent your export notification form
Once your form has been received, HSE, as the GB PIC Designated National Authority (DNA) will check and process it, and contact you if clarification is needed.
If an export requires the explicit consent of the importing country, HSE, as the GB PIC DNA will seek this on behalf of the GB based exporter.
Explicit consent may have specific conditions or restrictions, for example limited validity, importer specific or use-specific. Sometimes responses may be negative.
If the importing country has not responded within 60 days from the date the GB DNA requests consent, then you may need to propose a waiver from the consent obligation.
A unique GB Reference Identification Number (RIN) is assigned by the DNA to each notification export and will be issued to exporters by email at the point when the export can proceed. This is used for export customs declarations. The RIN is valid until 31 December of the year for which the notification is made. A new export notification will be required if another export is to be made during a subsequent year.
The PIC DNA will send you a confirmation email when exports can proceed and provide you with a RIN for use in your export customs declaration.
Waivers
The requirement for a valid positive explicit consent response from an importing country can be waived on a case by case basis for:
- Part 2 chemicals only where the importing country is member of OECD (OECD waiver), or
- Part 2 and 3 chemicals if no response received from an importing country 60 days after request for an explicit consent was made by HSE, as the Great Britain Designated National Authority (standard waiver)
To propose a waiver you need documentary evidence from an official source that your chemical is licensed, registered or authorised in the importing country.
They are granted for a period of up to 12 months. The waiver proposal can be sent by email to HSE, as the GB PIC DNA at [email protected].
Please include in the subject line of your email: GB PIC - waiver proposal - company name – chemical or mixture - importing country name - Year.
Examples of the types of evidence that may be used for the granting of a waiver to the requirement for consent are as follows:
- some form of registration certificate showing that the chemical or mixture is authorised in the importing country
- an import licence issued for the chemical or mixture
- a statement from the importing country that the chemical is not subject to PIC (and therefore no consent is required) or that it is not subject to any restrictions and can be imported without any requirements