Safety Data Sheets

The safety data sheet (SDS) is the primary means of communicating information on the hazards of chemicals, the risks they pose to human health and the environment and on measures to control those risks.

Provision of Safety Data Sheets

The initial responsibility for preparing the safety data sheet falls on the first supplier of the substance onto the EU market - the manufacturer, importer or, in some cases, the only representative. Actors further down the supply chain should also provide a safety data sheet. In all cases, suppliers of a substance or a mixture which requires a SDS are responsible for its contents. The SDS must be prepared by a competent person.

A SDS that is compliant with REACH Annex II, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/878) must be provided for:

• A substance or mixture that is classified as hazardous, or
• A substance that is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), or
• A substance that is included in the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs).

If the hazardous substance or mixture is sold to the general public, a SDS does not need to be provided.

For mixtures not classified as hazardous, but which contain certain hazardous substances, a SDS should be provided if requested by downstream users or distributors.

The SDS can be provided on paper or electronically.

Updating of Safety Data Sheets

The SDS should be updated without delay when:

• new information which may affect the risk management measures, or new information on hazards becomes available, or
• an authorisation is granted or refused, or
• a restriction has been imposed.

Composition of Safety Data Sheets

The SDS must be in the language of the Member State in which the chemical is placed on the market and must contain the following 16 headings as set out in Article 31(6) of REACH:

1.    Identification of the substance/ mixture and of the company/undertaking

1.1    Product identifier (where a mixture has a Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) it must be provided in this subsection)

1.2    Relevant identified uses of the substance or mixture and uses advised against
1.3    Details of the supplier of the safety data sheet (the supplier always needs to add their contact details here even when they use the SDS from their supplier without changing any content). This section must contain the EU based supplier’s contact details – the EU manufacturer, importer, only representative, downstream user or distributor
1.4    Emergency telephone number. For hazardous mixtures that are within the scope of CLP Article 45 and placed on the market in Ireland, the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) is the appointed body under CLP Article 45, and its emergency number must be provided in section 1.4. It is permitted to include (in addition) an external emergency number, as appropriate.

For hazardous substances, or mixtures that are outside the scope of CLP Article 45, placed on the market in Ireland, NPIC’s emergency number may be provided. However, another emergency number provided by the supplier or third party can be indicated in section 1.4. Where the supplier provides their own emergency information service, any limitations on the supplier’s or any third party’s services (opening hours or types of information that can be provided) must be indicated.

NPIC charges an annual retainer for use of its telephone number on the SDS of chemical products placed on the market in Ireland. Further details can be found on NPIC’s website https://poisons.ie/industry-manufacturers/safety-data-sheets/

2.    Hazards identification
2.1    Classification of the substance or mixture
2.2    Label elements
2.3    Other hazards
The information outlined in Section 2 .2 must be consistent with information on the CLP label.

3.    Composition/information on ingredients
3.1    Substances
3.2    Mixtures

4.    First aid measures
4.1    Description of first aid measures
4.2    Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
4.3    Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed

5.    Fire-fighting measures
5.1    Extinguishing media
5.2    Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
5.3    Advice for firefighters

6.    Accidental release measures
6.1    Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
6.2    Environmental precautions
6.3    Methods and material for containment and cleaning up
6.4    Reference to other sections

7.    Handling and storage 
7.1    Precautions for safe handling
7.2    Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
7.3    Specific end use(s)

8.    Exposure controls/personal protection
8.1    Control parameters
8.2    Exposure controls
In Section 8 of the SDS, where there is a national OELV for a substance that value should be included in this section.

9.    Physical and chemical properties
9.1    Information on basic physical and chemical properties
9.2    Other information

10.    Stability and reactivity
10.1    Reactivity
10.2    Chemical stability
10.3    Possibility of hazardous reactions
10.4    Conditions to avoid
10.5    Incompatible materials
10.6    Hazardous decomposition products

11.    Toxicological information 

12.    Ecological information 
12.1    Toxicity
12.2    Persistence and degradability
12.3    Bioaccumulative potential
12.4    Mobility in soil
12.5    Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
12.6    Endocrine disrupting properties
12.7    Other adverse effects

13.    Disposal considerations
13.1    Waste treatment methods

14.    Transport information

15.    Regulatory information
15.1    Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
15.2    Chemical Safety Assessment
Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture, including but not limited to information on substances subject to Authorisation and Restriction under REACH.

16.    Other information

Extended Safety Data Sheets
Exposure scenarios provide information on how the exposure of workers, consumers and the environment to hazardous substances can be controlled during use. Exposure scenarios should be included as an annex to the safety data sheet of a substance when a company in the supply chain has carried out a chemical safety assessment under REACH. For substances imported in quantities above ten tonnes per year and with certain hazardous properties, registrants must prepare a chemical safety assessment. 
On receipt of an extended SDS, a downstream user should check that the exposure scenarios cover their use(s) and conditions of use. If the conditions of use are not covered, the downstream user can either ask the supplier to provide a suitable exposure scenario, substitute the substance or process with an alternative where the use is covered, or carry out their own chemical safety assessment.

Further Information

• ECHA Guidance documents on REACH Link
• HSA Safety Data Sheets for hazardous chemicals information sheet
• The Health and Safety Authority reminds suppliers, including retailers, of the legal requirement to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) to professional users

For further information on safety data sheets, please see our information sheet publication.