Contents
In short: SDS and MSDS name the same document. "MSDS" (material safety data sheet) is the older term, used in the United States before 2012. "SDS" (safety data sheet) is the term used by the GHS, by REACH in the EU and by OSHA since its 2012 Hazard Communication revision. The German SDB, the French and Spanish FDS and the Turkish GBF are the SDS in other languages. What changed in 2012 was not only the name: the US sheet now has a fixed 16-section order, and a sheet headed "MSDS" no longer meets the law by itself.
One document, several names
| Term | Language / region | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| MSDS, material safety data sheet | English, mainly the US | Name used in OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard until the 2012 revision |
| SDS, safety data sheet | English, international | GHS term; REACH Article 31 and Annex II (EU); 29 CFR 1910.1200 since 2012 (US) |
| SDB, Sicherheitsdatenblatt | German | Official German title of the SDS in REACH |
| FDS, fiche de données de sécurité | French | Official French title of the SDS in REACH |
| FDS, ficha de datos de seguridad | Spanish | Official Spanish title of the SDS in REACH |
| GBF, Güvenlik Bilgi Formu | Turkish | Turkish title used under the KKDİK and SEA regulations |
Abbreviations such as "SDB" and "FDS" are common usage in the trade; the legal text uses the full title, and the abbreviation is defined by each sheet's author.
How "MSDS" became "SDS"
Before 2012, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard required a "material safety data sheet" but did not prescribe a layout. OSHA's Form 174 was only a suggested format. In 1993 ANSI published Z400.1, a voluntary standard that recommends titles and a fixed order for sixteen sections, the first ten of which correspond to the elements OSHA then required. OSHA referred to the ANSI format in guidance, but the standard itself was not incorporated into the rule. In practice, MSDSs from different suppliers looked very different from each other.
The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) introduced the term "safety data sheet" and a single 16-section structure. The EU had used "safety data sheet" for years; OSHA followed in 2012.
OSHA HazCom 2012: the MSDS to SDS switch
OSHA published the revised Hazard Communication Standard on 26 March 2012 (77 FR 17574). It aligned the standard with the GHS, replaced the term "material safety data sheet" with "safety data sheet", and required the 16 headings in a set order. The transition dates were:
- 1 December 2013: employee training on the new label elements and SDS format;
- 1 June 2015: manufacturers, importers and distributors must ship SDSs in the new format with hazardous chemicals;
- 1 December 2015: distributors may no longer ship containers with the manufacturer's old label;
- 1 June 2016: employers must update workplace labelling and the hazard communication programme as needed.
Today 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2) lists the sixteen headings, and Appendix D describes what each contains. OSHA does not enforce the content of Sections 12 to 15 (ecological, disposal, transport and regulatory information), because those fall under other agencies, but the headings must still appear. A sheet titled "MSDS" in the old, free-form layout is not compliant for a new US shipment. The 2024 revision of the standard has its own compliance dates; see when to update an SDS.
EU: REACH Article 31 and Annex II
In the EU the legal term is "safety data sheet". Article 31 of REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) sets out when a supplier must provide one, and Annex II, "Guide to the compilation of safety data sheets", prescribes the 16 sections and their sub-headings. Annex II was replaced by the annex to Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878, which applies from 1 January 2021; sheets that follow the earlier version could still be supplied until 31 December 2022. The structure is the same 16 headings as in the GHS, with more detailed sub-sections (for example for nanoforms, endocrine disrupting properties and UFI). For what each section must contain, see the 16 SDS sections explained.
Format compared
| Point | Old US MSDS (before 2012) | ANSI Z400.1 (voluntary) | GHS / OSHA SDS / REACH SDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal layout | None required; content elements only | Voluntary | Mandatory 16 headings in a fixed order |
| Number of sections | Varied by supplier | 16 recommended | 16 |
| Name on the document | MSDS | MSDS or SDS | SDS (or the national equivalent) |
The practical consequence: the 16-section structure is shared, so one well-built sheet can serve several markets after translation and local adjustment of classification, limit values and regulatory information. What differs is the classification system behind it; see CLP vs GHS vs OSHA HazCom and the comparison of EU, UK and US SDS requirements.
When "MSDS" is still accepted
- As everyday wording. Buyers, search engines and customs brokers still say "MSDS", and many suppliers use it as a synonym. Asking a supplier for an "MSDS" is understood.
- Legacy documents. Under OSHA's transition rules, employers could keep an old MSDS for a chemical received before the cut-over, provided it met the former standard. It is not a valid document for new shipments.
- Other jurisdictions. Some countries and carriers still print "MSDS" in forms and import procedures. Check what the importing country asks for; the content is what matters, and a GHS-format sheet is normally accepted under either name.
- Not in the EU legal text. REACH requires a "safety data sheet" in the language of the member state of supply. A document that only carries the title "MSDS" but follows Annex II is still a safety data sheet; a free-form one is not.
Rule of thumb: title the document "Safety Data Sheet" and keep the local name (SDB, FDS, GBF) beside it where the sheet is supplied in that language. Chemoris generates the sheet in the 16-section format from component data in several languages.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?
They are the same kind of document. "MSDS" is the older US name; "SDS" is the GHS, REACH and current OSHA name. Since 2012 the US SDS must follow the 16-section order.
Is an MSDS still legal in the US?
Not for new shipments. Manufacturers, importers and distributors had to supply SDSs in the new format from 1 June 2015 (29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers could keep older MSDSs for chemicals already received, if they met the former standard.
What is the SDB, FDS or GBF?
SDB (Sicherheitsdatenblatt) is German, FDS (fiche de données de sécurité, ficha de datos de seguridad) is French and Spanish, and GBF (Güvenlik Bilgi Formu) is Turkish. All are the safety data sheet under national law.
How many sections does an SDS have?
Sixteen, in a fixed order, under the GHS, REACH Annex II and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2).
This article summarises legal texts for orientation only; it is not legal advice. Check the current consolidated texts before relying on it.
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1200, paragraph (g)(2) and Appendix D — ecfr.gov.
- OSHA, Hazard Communication, final rule, 77 FR 17574, 26 March 2012 — federalregister.gov.
- OSHA, standard interpretation on the ANSI Z400.1 format, 20 November 1995 — osha.gov.
- OSHA, standard interpretation on HazCom effective dates and SDSs, 27 July 2015 — osha.gov.
- REACH, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Article 31 and Annex II — CELEX:02006R1907.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878 (replacing Annex II to REACH) — CELEX:32020R0878.
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