What Is an MSDS and When Do You Need One?
Documents · 4 min read
An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) documents the potential hazards of a product and how to handle it safely. It is required for all dangerous — or even just potentially dangerous — shipments, and the supplier is responsible for providing all hazmat documentation.
Which Shipments Need an MSDS?
- All potentially dangerous products: liquids, creams and powders may need an MSDS simply to prove they are not dangerous.
- All lithium battery shipments — whether classified as dangerous or not.
- Dry and alkaline batteries: carriers may also request an MSDS to certify they are not lithium-based.
- Forwarders and carriers require an MSDS copy before shipment; missing documents can hold up booking and uplift.
How Do I Know If an MSDS Is Expired?
Go to Section 14, "Transport Information", and check which edition of the IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) the product was packed under:
- MSDS layouts differ by supplier, but every MSDS is divided into numbered sections.
- IATA releases the next year's DGR edition every October, effective January 1st.
- An MSDS referencing an outdated edition is expired — ask your supplier for an updated copy.
Can I Re-use an MSDS?
- Only if the hazardous material is exactly the same: the same lithium battery used across different products can share one MSDS.
- The MSDS must still be provided for every shipment to certify the hazardous material has not changed.
Responsibility: properly packaging, labeling and documenting potentially dangerous cargo is the shipper's sole responsibility. Confirm with your supplier that the MSDS is complete and current before shipping.
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