Skip to main content
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, controlling risk together

Main menu

  • Home
  • Industries and Topics
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Youtube
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on Linkedin

How to create a Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) - Chemicals

Date published: 02 March 2021

Topics: Chemicals

The following advice is for companies that do not have a base in the EU or do not have a VAT number.

EU Chemicals - How to create a Unique Formula Identifier

The UFI generator on the European Chemicals Agency’s website can be used by virtually anybody. A link to the UFI generator can be found here:

  • Unique Formula Identifier - ECHA website

If a company using the generator does not have an EU VAT number, they can check the box which states: "By ticking this box, I declare that the company does not have a VAT number or chose not to use it to generate a UFI."

The use of the VAT number is a means to ensure that two different companies using the same formulation number will not produce the same UFI.

There are replies to a number of frequently asked questions about UFI in the EHCA Question and Answer section which can be found at the following link:

  • Questions and answers - ECHA website

There are also explanations about what is a UFI, how to generate it and how to use it in the dedicated page on the ECHA website, at:

  • Unique Formula Identifier - ECHA website

If you require further clarification you may wish to email the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA using the following ECHA contact form:

  • Contact form - ECHA website

 

Latest news

  • Latest chemicals news for Northern Ireland - updated 18 December 2025

    18 December 2025

  • Winning strokes - pupils use artwork to deliver safety messages

    10 December 2025

  • Building firm fined following unsafe practices

    10 December 2025

  • Health and Safety advice during storms and bad weather - Storm Bram

    08 December 2025

More news
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Footer

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Useful links
  • © Crown Copyright