SDS checklist: the 16 sections of a safety data sheet

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Frequently asked questions

How many sections does a safety data sheet have, and is the order fixed?

A safety data sheet has 16 sections in a fixed order. REACH Annex II prescribes them in the EU and 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2) in the US; both are based on the UN GHS.

Can a subsection be left blank if no data exist?

Not in the EU: REACH Annex II states that the SDS shall not contain blank subsections. State that no data are available or that the item is not applicable, and why.

Does this checklist guarantee that an SDS is compliant?

No. It is general guidance, not legal advice, and does not replace review by a competent person. Consistency between sections also needs a separate check.

Legal basis

The section headings and subsections are set out in REACH Annex II, as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878; classification and label references rest on Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). Subsection numbers follow REACH Annex II. Some subsections added to the EU text later (e.g. endocrine-disrupting properties, 11.2 and 12.6) are not listed separately here; check the current text. For the binding wording rely on EUR-Lex; the checklist is for information only. EUR-Lex 32020R0878, EUR-Lex 32008R1272

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