Where to Get a Safety Data Sheet for Your Product?
If you’ve determined that your company needs a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for a chemical product, the next logical question is: where can you get this document? An SDS can be obtained from various sources, depending on your role in the supply chain for the specific substance or mixture.
Who Is Responsible for Providing the Safety Data Sheet?
1. The Supplier of the Chemical Product
According to Article 31 of the REACH Regulation, the supplier (manufacturer, importer, downstream user, or distributor) is legally required to provide the recipient with an up-to-date Safety Data Sheet:
- Free of charge
- At the latest on the date of first delivery
- In the official language of the country where the product is supplied
If you didn’t receive the SDS when purchasing the product, your first step should be to contact the supplier.
Can a Safety Data Sheet Be Found Online?
Sometimes – yes. Many companies publish Safety Data Sheets for their products on their websites. Try searching:
"[product name] SDS" or "[manufacturer name] safety data sheet"
However, be cautious: finding an SDS online does not guarantee that the document is up to date or matches the specific version of the product you have. The SDS should correspond to the exact formulation and trade name of the product, and it must be in the language of the country where the product is marketed.
If you plan to place the same product on the market in other EU countries, you will be responsible for translating and adapting the SDS into the relevant official language(s).
2. Toll Manufacturing
If you outsource the manufacturing of a chemical mixture - the toll manufacturer is, in principle, responsible for providing the SDS. However, commercial agreements may assign the responsibility to your company instead.
Even if the supplier provides the SDS, they are typically only obliged to deliver it in the language of the supplier’s local market. Any additional translations required for other countries will remain your company’s responsibility.
3. You Are the Manufacturer of the Mixture
If your company manufactures a chemical mixture (e.g. a detergent), then, in applicable cases (check HERE), it will be required to prepare and provide a Safety Data Sheet. In this situation, you will not find an SDS for the final mixture online — you will need to prepare your own document in accordance with the regulations and in the appropriate language versions. Safety Data Sheets are not issued by any authority; they are documents prepared by specialized companies based on product-specific data.
We discuss the obligation to provide an SDS in more detail HERE.
4. You Are the Importer of a Mixture
If your company imports a chemical substance or mixture, then, in applicable cases (check HERE), it will be required to prepare and provide a Safety Data Sheet. In this case, you cannot demand an SDS from the supplier, because if their company is based outside the European Union, they are not subject to the obligations under the REACH Regulation.
Of course, it is possible that the supplier will provide a Safety Data Sheet; however, it might not be in the required language, and there is no guarantee that it will comply with the format required in the European Union under Regulation 2020/878/EU.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
✅ You have the right to request an SDS from your supplier – it’s their legal duty. However, you can only require the document in a specific language relevant to your market.
✅ You don’t need to search for an SDS on your own – but if you do, make sure it is the correct, current version for your product. Even seemingly similar mixtures may require different SDSs.
✅ If you are the manufacturer or importer – prepare the SDS internally or commission it from qualified experts.
Where Can You Get an SDS Prepared or Verified?
There are no governmental agencies that issue safety data sheets. This service is provided by specialized companies that prepare the documentation based on data for the chemical product.
If you need:
- A new Safety Data Sheet created from scratch
- An update to comply with the latest CLP or REACH requirements
- A compliance check to ensure your SDS meets inspection standards
→ Contact us.
We help manufacturers, importers, and distributors prepare compliant documentation for chemical products.
Summary: Where to Get a Safety Data Sheet?
| Source |
What to Do |
| Chemical product supplier |
Request the SDS – it is their obligation. |
| Manufacturer’s website |
Check online availability – ensure it’s up to date. |
| In-house production/import |
Prepare or outsource the SDS. |
| No SDS or in doubt |
Use a specialized consulting firm for help. |
⚠️ Important
Lack of an up-to-date and compliant SDS can lead to:
- Administrative fines
- Loss of customer trust
- Problems during inspections
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