Transition period for notifying hazardous chemical mixtures ends this year

If your company has notified hazardous chemical mixtures directly to the National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland (NPIC) and you intend to keep placing the same mixtures on the market after 1 January 2025, you must submit a new notification in accordance with Annex VIII, via the ECHA PCN portal, and include the UFI on the label by that date.

Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation defines the harmonised requirements for poison centre notifications (PCN). ECHA has established a harmonised PCN format for submitting the required information to poison centres and a submission portal for industry to prepare and submit information according to the harmonised format.

If your product remains on the market until 1 January 2025 and is unchanged, you must make a new submission in the harmonised format via the PCN portal, as no migration of data from the NPIC database is planned. However, if there is a change in the mixture composition, product identifier or toxicological properties (as indicated in Part B, Section 4.1 of Annex VIII) during the transitional period before 1 January 2025, the duty holder is required to submit information concerning the changed mixture in accordance with Annex VIII before it is placed on the market. If your product is discontinued before the end of 2024, you do not need to make a new submission.

As of 1 January 2025, ‘old’ submissions sent directly to the NPIC will be considered ‘archived’ and not complaint with regard to Annex VIII. Thus, you must ensure that a new, Annex VIII compliant submission is made, and product labels are updated, in time to allow you to continue placing the mixture on the market after this date.

Please note also that the NPIC charges an annual retainer for use of it’s telephone number on the SDS of chemical products placed on the market in Ireland. The annual retainer is €650 per company (or €200 if notifying less than 10 products).

Further information on the procedure to follow can be found at https://poisons.ie/industry-manufacturers/safety-data-sheets/

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Poison Centre Notifications: ensuring compliance for industrial use mixtures

From 1 January 2024 chemical mixtures for industrial use only will need to comply with Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) hosted an informative webinar about notifying industrial use mixtures on 14th November 2023. The webinar from ECHA is available to watch via this link.

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Plant Awareness for Pet Owners

As pet owners, we want to keep our pets happy and healthy while they explore the outdoors and live alongside us in our homes. There is a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants that pets may come in contact with in their lifetime. These plants range in toxicity; some are low in toxicity, while others may be harmful and potentially life-threatening if eaten. It is important to remember that humans and pets are very different and even if a plant is considered to be safe or low in toxicity for humans, there may be harmful effects for pets.

Low toxicity plants are generally safe but may cause mild symptoms like nausea and vomiting if more than a small amount is eaten. More serious symptoms are unlikely to occur unless large amounts are eaten. Animals may be protected from some skin effects due to their fur. However, when grooming they may accidentally ingest plant material which has stuck to their fur.

We have compiled a list of plants for the home and garden which are considered to be low in toxicity for cats and dogs and have highlighted some common plants which may be harmful. We have also provided some tips below to help keep your pet safe around plants. The photos included are for illustration purposes only and should not be used for identifying plants.

Here are some tips

Learn about plants that are already in your home and garden.
Do your research when choosing new plants. Check the label for any warnings about the plant and ask garden center staff for advice. The UK’s Horticultural Trades Association has produced a list of potentially harmful garden and house plants which includes information on toxicity to pets https://hta.org.uk/potentiallyharmfulplants
Keep the plant label safe so that you will have a record of the plant’s name if accidental poisoning is suspected.
Train pets to avoid eating or chewing plants. If you are struggling with this, your vet or a trainer/behavioural expert may be able to advise you.
Pets should be supervised around plants, particularly in a new environment. Be particularly mindful of puppies and kittens who are exploratory by nature and may eat or chew plants.
If you have bulbs planted in your garden, remember their locations. Dogs may dig and ingest these even outside of their flowering season.
Keep house plants and cut flowers out of reach of pets.
Although some plants may be low in toxicity, they may present a physical hazard. For example, chewing branches and sticks may present a physical risk for dogs.
Don’t rely on Plant Identification Apps when looking for information on plants as they’re not 100% accurate.
If you suspect your pet may have been exposed to a potentially dangerous plant or you are unsure of the danger, consult your vet for advice.

The list below contains a selection of some widely known low toxicity plants and some plants which you should be particularly mindful of. These lists are non-exhaustive and do not include every harmful plant or every plant that is low in toxicity. The photos included are for illustration purposes only and should not be used to fully identify a plant.

Aster/ Michaelmas daisy (Aster and Symphyotrichum species)

Low Toxicity Indoor Plants

African Violet (Streptocarpus, syn. Saintpaulia)

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Boston / Sword Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens, syn. Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Toxic Indoor and Outdoor Plants

Cycads (Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae families)

Toxic Outdoor Plants

Allium genus (e.g. Chives, Onions, Garlic and ornamental Allium)

Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)

Lords-and-ladies Cuckoo Pint (Arum species)

References

Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants, 3rd Edition (2022)
BSAVA/VPIS Guide to Common Canine and Feline Poisons (2019). Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA).
Poisonous plants. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®)

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Elizabeth Dauncey for her help and expertise with the preparation of this document.

©The National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland 2023

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Bord Bia Bloom 2023

The National Poisons Information Centre at Beaumont Hospital is delighted to have a Show Garden entitled ‘The Know, Act, Prevent Garden’ at the 2023 Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park from 1st-5th June. The aim of the garden is to raise awareness of the importance of poison prevention in the home and garden, and the work of the Poisons Information Centre.

Here is a link to our Bord Bia Bloom page that has information such as the Plant List for the Show Garden, a practical room to room guide to keep your home safe, information on toxic and low toxicity plants for humans and pets, and useful educational resources. We hope you find this information valuable.

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Guide to toxic plants

Plants that are considered potentially toxic (poisonous) to humans may cause substantial symptoms, although these are not seen in most cases of accidental ingestion. The risks of developing more moderate-to-severe symptoms increase when larger amounts are chewed or swallowed. For some plants, children and adults will need to be monitored in a hospital emergency department if any amount of plant material is eaten, due to the risks involved. Therefore, it is important to make your garden as safe as possible. Handling some plants and bulbs, and skin contact with the sap may sometimes result in redness or rash.

The list of flowers and shrubs below contains some well-known plants that are considered toxic. If you have young children in your home or childcare facility, you may wish to avoid growing these plants, or take steps to prevent access to them. Supervision of children is the best way to ensure that accidental poisoning does not occur. If poisoning is suspected, call the Poisons Information Centre on 01 809 2166 for prompt advice.

Please note the list below contains a selection of some widely known toxic plants that flower at different times of the year. The list does not include every plant available for each season. The photos included here are for illustration purposes only and should not be used to fully identify a plant.

Here are some tips to ensure your garden is safe for young children

Teach children to always ask an adult if something is safe to eat.
Teach children not to put any part of a plant into their mouths.
Don’t encourage play where children make ‘tea’ or ‘perfume’ with plants and flowers growing in the garden
When choosing plants for your garden, read the label to see if there are any warnings about the plant and ask garden centre staff for advice. The UK’s Horticultural Trades Association has produced a list of potentially harmful garden and house plants https://hta.org.uk/potentiallyharmfulplants
It is a good idea to keep the plant label safe so that you will have a record of the plant’s name if accidental poisoning is suspected.
Wear gardening gloves and always wash your hands after handling plants.
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 01 809 2166 for advice if accidental poisoning occurs. Sometimes symptoms may be delayed so it is a good idea to call for advice on what things to look out for.
Don’t rely on Plant Identification Apps on mobile phones when looking for information on plants as they’re not 100% accurate.

Rhododendron or azalea (Rhododendron species) — Rhododendron or azalea

Hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata)

Angels' trumpets (Brugmansia species) — Angels’ trumpets (Brugmansia species)

References

Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents & Childcare Providers by Dauncey, Elizabeth A. Published by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2010)
ISBN 10: 184246406X ISBN 13: 9781842464069
The 2022 Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) list of potentially harmful plants
TOXBASE® © Crown copyright 1983-2023

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Elizabeth Dauncey for her help and expertise with the preparation of this document.

©The National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland 2023

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Guide to low toxicity plants for child friendly gardens and play spaces

The National Poisons Information Centre at Beaumont Hospital has developed a helpful guide to low toxicity plants for child friendly gardens and play spaces.
Plants with a low toxicity are generally safe. Sometimes, if a child eats more than a few of these plants this may cause mild symptoms like a sore tummy, and vomiting but they are unlikely to develop more serious symptoms unless excessive amounts of these plants are eaten. You may get a mild redness or rash when handling plants or you make skin contact with the sap. Children and parents should always wash their hands after handling plants.

Here are some tips:

1. Teach your children to ask questions about the natural world, including if something is safe to eat.
2. Warn your children about putting any part of a plant into their mouths. Curiosity is great but an upset stomach not so much.
3. Children and parents should always wash their hands after handling plants.
4. Children sometimes make ‘tea’ or ‘perfume’ with plants and flowers growing in the garden. Think its best if you encourage other kinds of play.
5. Garden Centre staff have the knowledge to advise you what plants would be best for your garden if you have children and all plants carry safety warnings on their label. The UK’s Horticultural Trades Association has produced a list of potentially harmful garden and house plants https://hta.org.uk/potentiallyharmfulplants
6. It is a good idea to keep the plant label safe so that you will have a record of the plant’s name if accidental poisoning is suspected.
7. Don’t rely on Plant Identification Apps on mobile phones when looking for information on plants as they are not always accurate.

Below you will find a list of flowers, shrubs, and trees and some well-known plants that are generally considered to be low in toxicity. Young children can play amongst these plants safely unless they ingest a large number of these plants.

Please note the list below contains a selection of some widely known low toxicity plants that flower at different times of the year. The photos included here are for illustration purposes only and should not be used to fully identify a plant.

Spring Plants

Summer Plants

Coleus (Coleus sctuellarioides, Solenostemon scutellarioides)

Autumn Plants

Michaelmas daisy (Aster and Symphyotrichum species)

Ice Plant (Hylotelephium spectabile, syn. Sedum spectabile)

Winter Plants

Bergenia, Elephant's Ears (Bergenia species) — Bergenia, Elephant’s Ears (Bergenia species)

Hedges

Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)

Sweet Olive (Osmanthus x burkwoodii)

Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Ferns

Tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum) Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) — Tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum)
Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum)

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

Japanese forest grass or Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Japanese sedge or Morrow’s sedge (Carex morrowii)
Mexican feathergrass (Stipa tenuissima)

References

Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents & Childcare Providers by Dauncey, Elizabeth A. Published by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2010)
ISBN 10: 184246406X ISBN 13: 9781842464069
The 2022 Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Guide to potentially harmful plants
TOXBASE® (Toxbase is the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service and is a first-line resource for healthcare professionals providing information on the routine diagnosis, treatment and management of poisoning)

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Elizabeth Dauncey for her help and expertise with the preparation of this document.

©The National Poisons Information Centre of Ireland 2023

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Christmas Safety Messages from the NPIC and HSE

Key messages

Prevention is key

There are things parents, family members and Santa Claus himself can do to help make this special time of year a safe one.

Parents and guardians should watch out for button and cylindrical batteries in toys, decorations and gadgets. Serious injury can occur if a child swallows a battery or puts a leaking one in their mouth. Keep batteries out of children’s sight and reach.

Be safety aware when buying toys and other gifts. Look for the CE mark and age labelling. Think about yonger children in a home when giving a toy to an older child. A younger sibling may end up playing with a toy unsuitable for their age and developmental stage.

Young children don’t understand danger. They may put items into their mouths that could poison or choke them. Always supervise your child. Don’t rely on older children to do so.

There is lots of information on poison prevention on www.poisons.ie and on child safety all year around on www.mychild.ie, part of hse.ie.

Batteries and poisons

Keep batteries out of reach

Children can easily remove batteries from items like remote controls. Keep products with batteries well out of reach if the battery compartment isn’t secured with a screw. Put them in a secure place a child cannot reach.

Make sure all battery compartments on toys and other items are secure and can’t be opened by little hands. A secure battery compartment is one that requires a screwdriver or other tool to open. Your child should not be able to open them.

Keep all spare or used batteries out of sight and reach of children. Safely recycle used batteries.

Button batteries cause serious harm

Button batteries are small batteries that look a bit like coins. They can be found in musical cards and books, novelty decorations like singing Santas or Christmas ornaments that light up, flameless candles and a wide range of small electronic devices.

They can be a choking hazard for a child and, if swallowed, can seriously burn their insides.

Bring your child to hospital if you think they have swallowed a battery

If you think your child may have swallowed a button battery or any other type of battery, take them immediately to your nearest hospital emergency department.

You can give a child over 1 year of age two teaspoons of honey if they have swallowed a button battery. The honey coats the battery. This can protect the oesophagus from injury before the battery is removed in hospital. Only do this if they are able to swallow. Do not delay bringing them to hospital.

Call the Poisons Information Centre if you think your child has been exposed to poison

Call the Poisons Information Line on 01-809 2166 if you think your child has been exposed to poison. The service is available from 8am to 10pm every day, including Christmas Day. It gives urgent tailored advice to members of the public on whether medical treatment is needed following accidental poisoning. Outside of these hours, contact your GP or hospital. In an emergency, call 999 or 112.

Be aware of common poison risks at Christmas

These include:

batteries and button batteries – children may chew on them and/or swallow them which can result in serious harm
firelighters and matches – ingestion of even small amounts can potentially cause symptoms including aspiration into the lungs if vomiting occurs
seasonal plants including poinsettia, holly, ivy and mistletoe, which are potentially poisonous
household products, cosmetics and medicines – make sure visitors keep theirs out of children’s reach
gift items and household products such as essential oils and reed diffusers – these can be highly toxic if ingested, even in small amounts. They can cause also harm to the skin and eye if exposure occurs
popular gifts like perfume, aftershave and cologne – they may contain very high concentrations of alcohol and can be toxic to children if swallowed
alcohol leftover in glasses and cans – alcohol intoxication can occur even with small volumes
car de-icers – they can contain ethylene glycol, methanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol which are all potentially toxic

For more information on poisoning prevention, visit www.poisons.ie.

Toy safety

Look for the CE safety mark

All toys must carry the CE mark. The CE mark is a manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with safety regulations and safety standards in the EU. The CE mark should appear on the product, in the instruction manual or on the packaging and be easy to read. Only buy toys from trusted shops.

Check the age labelling and warnings on toys

Make sure children are playing with toys that are right for their age and developmental stage.

Age labelling is the manufacturer’s way of telling you whether the toys are safe for a child of a particular age. For example, you might see one warning you that a toy is not suitable for children aged under 3 years. It is also important to consider any younger children who may be in the home. They could be in danger if they play with a toy that is not suitable for their age.

Make sure toys are in good condition and don’t have sharp edges

Broken toys can be dangerous.

Check toys for choking risks and detachable parts

Young children (under 3 years) put things in their mouths. Watch out for small objects, particularly round-shaped, that could block your child’s airway. For example, marbles, beads, coins, marker caps and bottle tops.

One of the biggest dangers for children is small or detachable parts of toys. They can lodge in their ears, nose or throat, and cause an injury, or be a choking hazard to small children who put things in their mouths.

Any part that comes loose should be too large for a child to swallow. Small magnetic pieces can also cause serious injury if swallowed.

Check for strings

Keep items with strings, cords and cables out of reach – they are a strangulation risk.

Store toys safely

Make sure toys are:

are stored out of the way when not being used so they don’t cause trips or falls
are stored somewhere a child doesn’t need to climb to reach

Questions and answers

How many children are poisoned by batteries each year?

From 2020 to date, the National Poisons Information Centre has received over 200 enquiries regarding exposures to batteries in children.

What age are children most at risk of poisoning?

Poisoning is most likely to happen to children age 1 to 4 years.

Most incidents happen in the child’s home, the home of a grandparent or a childminder, or at a crèche or school.

Lots of ordinary household products can be poisonous.

What types of toys should the CE mark appear on?

A toy is a product under EU Toy Safety Regulations that is clearly designed for or intended to be played with by children under the age of 14. This includes tricycles and scooters.

What is the CE mark?

Look for the CE (Conformité Européene) mark. This is the manufacturer’s declaration that the toy complies with safety regulations and safety standards in the EU. Look for the CE mark on the toy, instructions or packaging.

Do scooters have a CE safety mark?

All toy scooters should have a CE safety mark. If your child’s scooter has this CE mark, it is intended to only be used as a toy. If the CE mark is on your child’s scooter, it is intended to be used as a toy. All toy scooters must have the manufacturer’s name, address and contact details.

What should I look out for when buying toys?

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) advises people to be safety aware when they are buying gifts, particularly toys.

This includes toys bought online or from market stalls or discount shops.

Always buy from reputable retailers. This will help you to avoid unsafe, non-compliant toys, or toys with a fake CE mark.

The CCPC advises that if you are buying online, it can be hard to know who you are buying from, so it’s important to do some quick research, check reviews and social media pages. Check where the business is based.

If you can’t find this information easily, approach with caution. If the business is based outside of the EU, you may consider finding an alternative EU store to ensure you have stronger rights should an issue arise in the future.

Carefully check toys purchased online and toys bought second-hand.

What type of toys are unsafe?

Any toy that doesn’t have a genuine CE safety mark and which is unsuitable for your child’s age and development stage.

Toys that unsafe may be:

broken
have strings or cords
have small detachable parts that can break off
have battery compartments that children can open

What type of toys do you recommend for young children?

Your child’s favourite toy is you. You are your child’s world so they will want to spend as much time with you as possible. Give your child lots of opportunity to play.

It is normal for children to prefer one type of play or certain toys. Try to create variety and make sure it is fun.

You can help your child to develop their imagination, creativity and key motor skills by choosing toys they can use in lots of different ways. For example:

blocks – for grasping, banging together, or building a tower when your baby gets older
balls – to hold, roll, throw and eventually bounce
cardboard boxes – to play imaginative games
dressing up clothes – old clothes, hats or bags
arts and crafts – paper, stickers, crayons and washable markers
household items – pots, pans, baskets, cardboard tubes, tins or lids

You’ll find advice on play and toy ideas for different ages on mychild.ie.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/child-health-and-wellbeing/nhcp-news-8.pdf (page 7) – based on advice from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

HSE Child Safety Programme manual

https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/child-health-and-wellbeing/csp-manual.pdf

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Notifying hazardous chemical mixtures for industrial use – new procedure from 1st January 2024

On 1 January 2024 Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation will enter into force for industrial use mixtures that are classified as hazardous on the basis of their health or physical effects. From that date, if you place such a mixture on the market in Ireland, you must notify it to the National Poisons Information Centre in Beaumont Hospital (NPIC) in the harmonised format via the ECHA PCN portal. Visit the ECHA Poison Centres website for more information on making a notification via the PCN portal, https://poisoncentres.echa.europa.eu/steps-for-industry.

If you have notified your industrial use mixtures directly to the NPIC before 1 January 2024 these notifications will remain valid until 1 January 2025 or until changes are made to the product (e.g. changes to the mixture composition, toxicological properties or product identifiers). If your product remains unchanged until 1 January 2025, you must then make a new notification in the harmonised format via the ECHA PCN portal, as no migration of data is planned. If your product is discontinued before the end of 2024, you do not need to make a new submission.

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NPIC Antidote Survey

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey of antidote availability in Irish hospitals with emergency departments. The survey is now closed.

The National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) is currently conducting a survey of antidote availability in Irish hospitals with emergency departments. The pharmacy department of each hospital was contacted in February 2022 and provided with a the survey.

A large number of centres have already responded to this survey and we would like to thank respondents for their participation.We are, however, hoping to receive further responses.If you believe your organisation has not received the survey and is interested in taking part, please get in touch using the message function on our “Contact us” page.

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ECHA webinar on Poison centre notifications: new changes and functionalities

ECHA held a webinar on “Poison centre notifications: explaining new changes and functionalities” on 24th November 2021.

This webinar details all the latest changes and improvements following the October 2021 release of the poison centre notification (PCN) format and IT solution. It provides more information on the group submission process, as well as covering the coming changes such as the disable submission functionality. The webinar recording is available here