A safety data sheet (SDS), material safety data sheet (MSDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is an important component of product stewardship, occupational safety and health, and spill-handling procedures. SDS formats can vary from source to source within a country depending on national requirements. SDS information may include instructions for the safe use and potential hazards associated with a particular material or product. 

SDSs is a widely used system for cataloging information on chemicals, chemical compounds, and chemical mixtures. It should be available for reference in the area where the chemicals are being stored or in use. 

It is important to use an SDS specific to both country and supplier, as the same product (e.g. paints sold under identical brand names by the same company) can have different formulations in different countries. The formulation and hazard of a product using a generic name may vary between manufacturers in the same country.

Why is requiring SDS and Label?

In China, the overarching regulation governing GHS and SDS is State Council Decree No. 591- Regulations on Safe Management of Hazardous Chemicals (2011).

Under Articles 15 and 37 of Decree 591, companies involved in the production, import, storage, use, sales, marketing and transportation of hazardous chemicals are required to obtain and maintain SDS and safety labels for their chemical products. Penalties for non-compliance, are covered under Article 78, and are composed by the competent authority. Regulations that govern hazardous chemicals registration (SAWS Order 53), new substance notification (MEP Order 7/Article 10) and environmental hazard registration (MEP Order 22) also require that Chinese SDS and Labels should be submitted along with registration/licensing applications.

Under the Ministry of Transportation Decree No.2 (2013) Article 32, SDS and Labels are required for all dangerous good in China. According to the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) Announcement No. 30 (2012), Chinese Label and sample SDS are required for imported chemicals, whilst for export, SDS, Label and equivalent Chinese translations are required.

EU, US, Canada, Japan and other regions enact similar rules and SDS is also a carrier for information communication of REACH Regulation. Therefore it is important for businesses involved in chemicals to pay due attention to SDS/MSDS for information communication to avoid safety hazards or safety risks. 

Use of SDS/MSDS

Which substances require SDS?

• Substances that categorised as dangerous goods or articles containing dangerous goods;
• Substances or articles not categorised as dangerous goods but contain considerable proportion of SVHCs or other dangerous constituents;
• Substances that categorised as PBT or vPvB;
• Where products do not meet the above conditions, but the competent department or importers require to provide SDS or more stringent requiremen