Glossary · Quality and documents

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

In short

A safety data sheet (SDS) is the standardised 16-section document a supplier must provide for a hazardous chemical, covering its hazards, safe handling and storage, emergency measures, transport and regulatory information.

16 sections

The same 16 headings under EU REACH and the US OSHA standard.

In the market's language

Under REACH, in an official language of the Member State where it is sold.

Updated without delay

When new hazard information appears, and sent to customers of the past 12 months.

By Shai Tsarfati, Co-Founder and CEO of Surplus International · Updated November 2026

SDS format deadlines
  1. 1 January 2021EU: current REACH Annex II format applies
  2. 31 December 2022EU: older-format sheets no longer accepted
  3. 19 May 2026US: OSHA HCS 2024 compliance date for substances
  4. 19 November 2027US: OSHA HCS 2024 compliance date for mixtures

An old MSDS that came with a surplus lot should be replaced by a current SDS.

In the EU, REACH Article 31 requires the supplier to provide an SDS compiled under Annex II for substances and mixtures classified as hazardous, for PBT and vPvB substances and for substances on the Candidate List, and on request for certain non-classified mixtures [1]. In the United States, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires manufacturers and importers to obtain or develop an SDS for each hazardous chemical, in English, under the same 16 headings [2].

Under REACH the SDS must be provided free of charge, on paper or electronically, no later than first supply, in an official language of the Member State where the product is placed on the market. It must be updated without delay when new hazard or risk management information becomes available, and sent to everyone supplied in the preceding 12 months [1]. The current EU format has applied since 1 January 2021, with older-format sheets accepted until 31 December 2022 [3]. OSHA requires significant new hazard information to be added within three months, and its 2024 revision sets compliance dates of 19 May 2026 for substances and 19 November 2027 for mixtures [2]. Requirements differ by jurisdiction, so check the rules of the destination market.

Why it matters for surplus chemicals

An SDS that was correct when the lot was made can be out of date when it is sold. Classifications change, formats change, and a sheet written for one country may lack the language or national sections needed in another. Under REACH a distributor counts as a supplier, so whoever places a surplus lot on the EU market must provide a compliant SDS [1]. In the United States, distributors must pass SDSs on with the initial shipment and with the first shipment after an update [2].

The SDS describes the product, not the measured quality of the batch: an SDS is not a certificate of analysis, and buyers need both.

What to check

  • The SDS covers this exact product and grade, with the supplier's details and a revision date.
  • Sections 2 and 3 (classification, composition) match the current CoA and any known impurities.
  • It is in the language required where the lot will be sold, with that market's regulatory information in section 15.
  • It reflects recent classification changes for the substance; ask when it was last reviewed.
  • Section 14 transport information is complete, because packers and carriers rely on it.
  • Sections 7 and 10 (storage, stability) match how the lot was actually stored.

Frequently asked questions

Is an SDS required for non-hazardous chemicals?

Not always. Under REACH an SDS is mandatory for hazardous, PBT, vPvB and Candidate List substances and hazardous mixtures, and for certain non-classified mixtures it must be provided on request [1]. Many suppliers issue one anyway, and buyers often ask for it.

What is the difference between an MSDS and an SDS?

MSDS (material safety data sheet) is the older name and format. The OSHA standard now requires the 16-section SDS [2], and the EU format is set by REACH Annex II [3]. An old MSDS supplied with a surplus lot should be replaced by a current SDS.

Sources

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), consolidated version of 22 June 2026
  2. 29 CFR 1910.1200: OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878 amending Annex II to REACH (requirements for the compilation of safety data sheets)

General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by country and by the facts of each lot.