What is MSDS? Safety Data Sheet (SDS / SDS) Guide

What is MSDS?

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a safety document that collects the harmfulness of a chemical substance or mixture, safe use and storage conditions, first aid, fire and disposal information in 16 standard sections. Its current international name is SDS; It is referred to as Safety Information Form (SDS) in Turkish legislation and is prepared in Turkish.

“What does MSDS mean?” The short answer to the question is material safety data sheet. The document is the common language between the company that launches a product and everyone who uses, transports, stores and manages its waste. It does not tell you how well the product performs, but how dangerous it is and how to control that danger.

In the field, the expression "MSDS document" is often perceived as a certificate or official approval letter. However, MSDS is not a permission document received from an institution; It is an information document prepared by the company that puts the product on the market and forwarded to the supply chain. This distinction is the answer to the question “Where do I get MSDS?” It also determines the answer to the question from the beginning.

Are MSDS, SDS and SDS the same document?

Yes. Three abbreviations refer to the same document; The difference is in what period and in what context they are used. MSDS is the old international name. With the United Nations' harmonized system of classification and labeling (GHS), the word "Material" in the title was dropped and the document became standardized under the name SDS. The official name used by the legislation in Turkey is Safety Data Sheet.

The practical result is this: when your customer says "send MSDS", the document valid in Turkey is the SDS prepared in Turkish. An old English form with “MSDS” in the title will not meet this need on its own, no matter how accurate its content. Exposure scenario for when added forms are required: extended SDS (eSDS) and exposure scenarios.

What is the safety data sheet used for and who uses it?

The SDS does not have a single reader. The same document answers different questions for different people:

• Occupational safety specialist and occupational physician — refer to section 8 for risk assessment, selection of personal protective equipment and exposure control. For its relationship: KKDIK and occupational health and safety.
• Production and warehouse manager — uses sections 7 and 10 for handling, storage conditions and materials that should not be stored together. Detail: chemical storage and safety obligations.
• Purchasing and quality unit — upon supplier approval, it checks whether the form is up-to-date, in Turkish and prepared by the authorized person.
• Logistics company — plans the shipment according to the transportation information in section 14.
• Fire department, emergency response teams and medical personnel — apply first aid, fire and dispersion measures in sections 4, 5 and 6 in case of accident.
• Environment and waste manager — Learns the ecological impact and disposal method from chapters 12 and 13.
• Formulator — uses forms from its suppliers as input when classifying its own blend.

In short, SDS ensures that chemical information is transferred from the manufacturer to the end user without being lost. The label gives the brief warning on the product; GBF is the detail behind that warning.

Part 16 of the safety data sheet

The SDS consists of 16 sections, the order and titles of which cannot be changed. The chapters follow a logical flow: the first chapters give the identity and hazard of the product, the middle ones give emergency and safe use, and the last chapters give waste, transport and regulatory information.

You can review the GBF 16 chapter guide for what should be included in each chapter and the most common mistakes. If you want to see what a completed form looks like section by section: sample of safety data sheet.

Who prepares MSDS?

The MSDS is prepared by the party placing the product on the market: the manufacturer, the importer or the formulator who places the mixture on the market under his own name. The responsibility for the document lies with this company; However, in Turkey, the person issuing the form must be an authorized Chemical Evaluation Expert (KDU).

KDU authority belongs to the individual, not the company. The statement "Our company is KDU certified" is therefore technically incorrect; He is a documented employee. A company without an KDU either certifies its personnel or outsources services. A form prepared by unauthorized persons may be deemed invalid during audit, even if its content is correct.

Writing the form is not just about filling in the 16 headings. First, the product must be classified according to the CEA Regulation; The hazard class, pictogram and H/P expressions are derived from here and the same result is written on both the form and the label. For the equivalent of the classification on the EU side: What is CLP? If you want to have the document prepared for your own product, the factors that determine the process, scope and cost are explained on our SDS preparation service page.

When is MSDS mandatory and where is it required?

The basic rule is: for every substance and mixture classified as hazardous, it is mandatory to prepare a Turkish SDS before placing it on the market and forward it to buyers in the supply chain. This obligation is determined by three regulations in Turkey: KKDIK Regulation, CLP Regulation and Regulation on Safety Data Sheets. We have explained step by step how to meet this obligation for your own products on the safety data sheet preparation page.

Beyond the legal obligation, SDS appears at many points in commercial life:

• Customer and supplier approval — large buyers require updated SDS before placing the product on the supplier list; The first question asked in supplier audits is who prepared the form.
• Import and export — foreign buyers consider SDS among the first documents requested; For imported products, the Turkish form must be ready.
• Transportation — logistics companies obtain the transport class and packaging group from the form.
• Occupational health and safety — chemical risk assessment in the workplace is based on the current forms of the products used.
• Formal checks — checking the form for consistency with the tag as well as its existence.

In harmful mixtures, the work does not end with SDS; The UFI code is generated and written on both the form and the label: UFI / PCN notification. The situation with products that are not classified as hazardous is also discussed in the frequently asked questions below.

How to read MSDS? Most important sections

All 16 sections are important; But on first reading, these six sections give you most of what the document has to tell you:

• Chapter 2 — Hazards identification. Hazard class, pictograms, signal word and H/P statements are here. First check: is it exactly the same as the statements on the product label? The most common nonconformity detected during the audit is that the label and the 2nd part do not match. For the meaning of the statements: hazard classes and H statements.
• Chapter 7 — Handling and storage. This section determines the warehouse layout: temperature, ventilation, packaging conditions and materials that must be kept separate. It should be read in conjunction with the list of incompatible materials in section 10.
• Chapter 8 — Exposure controls and personal protection. Here are occupational exposure limit values, technical precautions and equipment selections such as gloves, goggles and respiratory protection. Attention: limit values ​​must be valid in Turkey; Using values ​​that are not valid in our country is a common mistake.
• Chapter 13 — Disposal information. Describes how to dispose of product residue and contaminated packaging; The waste management plan starts from here.
• Chapter 14 — Transport information. Includes UN number, transport class and packing group. This information must be consistent with the physical properties in section 9; Misspelling the packaging group is a typical finding.
• Chapter 15 — Regulatory information. Regulations that apply to the product are listed. Reference to national legislation is expected in some form in the Turkish market; A form containing only references to foreign legislation is most likely derived from translation.

Before moving on to the sections, look for three things: version number and revision date in section 1, language of the form, and author information. These three tell you from the beginning how much you can trust the document.

When is the SDS updated?

The MSDS does not have an “expiration date”; But it is not a document that is prepared once and put aside. When one of the following conditions occurs, the update is not at the discretion of the company, but becomes directly necessary:

• When new hazard information becomes available
• When classification or labeling changes
• When the formulation is changed
• When a new risk management measure is determined or exposure scenarios change
• Once the registration of the substance is completed and the registration number is received
• When the product is authorized or restricted

The updated form isn't just added to new sales; It must also be communicated to any recipients to whom you have supplied the product in the previous twelve months. Therefore, keeping a record of which version was sent to which customer is the most practical assurance. For version management and notification flow: safety data sheet update guide.

Difference between SDS and TDS

The document most confused with MSDS is the Technical Data Sheet (TDS). They are both prepared for the same product but answer different questions:

The two documents are not interchangeable but should not contradict each other. When the flash point is written as one value in the TDS and another value in the SDS, both loss of trust in the customer and non-compliance in the audit occurs. Detail: Technical Data Sheet (TDS).

Frequently asked questions

Where to get MSDS document?

You request the MSDS document of a chemical you purchased from the company that supplies the product to you; The supplier is obliged to provide an updated and Turkish form. For your own product, the certificate is not obtained from an institution: it is prepared by an authorized Chemical Evaluation Expert (KDU) based on the formulation data.

Does the MSDS have to be in Turkish?

Yes. For products placed on the market in Turkey, the safety data sheet must be prepared in Turkish. The original form in a foreign language can be used as a source, but it is not sufficient on its own; In forms prepared with machine translation, official statements and national legislation references are lost.

Does the MSDS have an expiration date?

There is no fixed validity period. Form; It must be updated in cases such as new hazard information, classification, formulation or legislative changes. If one of these changes has occurred, the form with an old revision date will no longer be considered current.

Is MSDS required for non-hazardous product?

The essential requirement is for substances and mixtures classified as hazardous. For some mixtures that are not classified as hazardous, a form may need to be given upon the buyer's request, depending on the content; Customers often require SDS as a business requirement. The conclusion that the product is harmless can only be reached through a correct classification.

Is there any difference between MSDS and SDS?

No, they are different names of the same document. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the old international name, SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is the current international name, and GBF (Safety Data Sheet) is the official name in Turkish legislation. The SDS valid in Turkey is prepared in Turkish and issued by KDU.

Can I use my supplier's MSDS for my own product?

No for your own mix. The supplier form provides input into your product classification; A separate form must be prepared for your own product. Even if you are repackaging and selling the same item, updating company information and language is mandatory.

Can I prepare the MSDS myself?

It is possible to fill out a form with a software or template; However, in Turkey, the safety data sheet must be prepared or approved by an authorized KDU. The template only shows the structure; does not calculate the classification and does not assume legal responsibility behind the document.

Related pages

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS / SDS / MSDS) preparation
• GBF 16 chapter guide
• Example of safety data sheet
• Safety data sheet update: when?
• Extended SDS (eSDS) and exposure scenarios
• What is CLP?
• What is a Chemical Assessment Expert (KDU)?
• KKDIK glossary of terms

Official full text of the regulation: KKDIK Regulation - Official Gazette.