Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Certificate - Fees & Process

The new IATA lithium battery guidance for MSDS Certificate includes:

Dangerous goods are susceptible to volatility and pose destructive risks when not handled correctly. Shipping dangerous goods internationally have its own set of complications - complying with regulations and restrictions is everyone’s responsibility to uphold safe practices.

There are 9 classes of dangerous goods (DG), each consisting of unique characteristics and features.

Classes of Dangerous Category Products

Following are the nine classes of Dangerous Category products:

Explosives

Substances that explode or can trigger explosive devices. e.g., fireworks, dynamite, detonators, ammunition

Flammable Gas

Gases that may ignite or burn instantly. e.g., Aerosol, fire extinguishers, gas lighters, camping gas

Flammable Liquids

Liquids that at a temperature of 60°C emit flammable gases. e.g., Gasoline, oil-based paints, perfume, aftershave

Flammable Solids

Solids that may either combust during transportation or cause/contribute to a fire. e.g., Matches, camphor, waste rubber

Oxidising Substances

Substances that may give off oxygen and therefore cause or contribute to the combustion of another material. e.g., Oxygen generators, zinc chlorate, potassium chlorate

Toxic Substances

Substances that may cause death, injury, or harm to humans if swallowed, inhaled, or contacted by the skin. e.g., Cyanide, rat poison, herbicides, insecticide

Radioactive Material

Substances that spontaneously and continuously emit radiation that can be harmful to humans or animals' health can affect photographic film or X-ray film. e.g., X-ray machines, some fire, and smoke alarms

Corrosive Substances

Substances that may cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue (e.g., skin) and other materials, including metal. e.g., Sulfuric acid, mercury, hydrochloric acid, and various other acids

Miscellaneous

Substances that do not meet the criteria of the classes of dangerous goods yet are considered dangerous for transport. e.g., asbestos, dry ice, magnetic material, consumer goods, & self-inflating equipment.

Note: Cosmetics (Perfumes, Nail Polish) and electronic items containing lithium batteries are also considered as Dangerous Goods (DG) or Hazardous Materials by customs-even though they appear non-hazardous.

Learn the major differences between MSDS and SDS and why SDS replaced MSDS under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

Note: GHS, often referred to as the ‘Purple Book’, is a UN-established framework that standardizes how chemical hazards are classified and communicated globally.

MSDS is basically a technical document for communicating product safety information. There are some advantages of the MSDS certificate, which are listed below:

• Consumer Protection: It protects the consumers of chemical products and provides basic information about hazardous chemicals.
• Workplace Safety: It guarantees safe working and provides specific data for setting up safe operations with hazardous substances.
• Emergency Response: It provides critical technical data for rapid response and assistance.
• Safe Management: It is a detailed guide to the safe management, production, transportation, and storage of chemicals and similar substances.
• Chemical Registration: It serves as a crucial starting point for managing the registration of chemicals.

MSDS Certificate is required by entities dealing with hazardous category products for various purposes of Material Safety Data Sheet. For more detailed guidance on the process, you may also refer to MSDS Certificate in Delhi

1. Supporting document for shipments : MSDS Certificate must be included in shipments by manufacturers, suppliers, or the exporting entities to declare the material's safety measures and related information. It must contain detailed information about the given material, including how it should be stored, disposed of and potential hazards or risks associated with its use. For the unversed, MSDS full form in shipping is similar to that of in general full form of MSDS.

2. Declaration by Exporters : Exporters need to produce an MSDS certificate for export if the contents of the shipments might be mistaken, perceived, or related to dangerous goods. Apart from air waybill and invoice, if you produce an MSDS when shipping, you will ship a regular shipment once it has been validated.

3. Complying with regulations and restrictions while shipping internationally : Different countries may also have different requirements, so there is no hard and fast rule for an MSDS. The bottom line is, whether the contents inside a shipment are authorized dangerous goods or may be perceived as such a type of good, they will have to adhere to proper packaging and transportation guidelines

4. MSDS is mandatory in Europe and North America : Sellers must obtain MSDS for selling products in Europe and North America. MSDS is mandatory because purchasers within these regions require a safety data sheet before placing orders.

5. For compliance of OHSAS 18001 : Entities with OHSAS 18001 Certification must obtain an MSDS certificate to comply with occupational health and safety standards.

A well - drafted MSDS is crucial for ensuring product safety, compliance with regulations, ensuring seamless shipment of products both domestically and internationally. The rapidly changing global standards and transportation regulations mandates the consignee to maintain accurate and correct Safety documents to avoid delays or rejection.

Professional Utilities provides complete documentation support for MSDS preparation, review, and compliance alignment, ensuring your documentation meets applicable regulatory and shipping requirements.