MSDS for shipping, the SDS explainedMSDS for shipping: the 16 sections.
An MSDS, now called a safety data sheet (SDS), is the 16-section document that describes a chemical's hazards, and MSDS for shipping is what forwarders, airlines and shipping lines ask for before they accept chemicals. Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai, explains all 16 GHS sections, why section 14 matters most for transport, and what to check before booking.
The 16 sections of an SDS
The GHS format uses the same 16 headings in the same order, whatever the supplier. Section 14 is the one transport staff read first.
| No. | Section | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification | Product name, supplier, emergency phone number |
| 2 | Hazard(s) identification | GHS classification, pictograms, signal word, hazard statements |
| 3 | Composition and ingredients | Chemical names and concentrations |
| 4 | First-aid measures | What to do after inhalation, skin or eye contact, swallowing |
| 5 | Fire-fighting measures | Suitable extinguishers, hazards from combustion |
| 6 | Accidental release measures | Spill clean-up and containment |
| 7 | Handling and storage | Safe handling, incompatibilities, storage conditions |
| 8 | Exposure controls and personal protection | Exposure limits, ventilation, protective equipment |
| 9 | Physical and chemical properties | Flash point, boiling point, pH, appearance |
| 10 | Stability and reactivity | Conditions and materials to avoid |
| 11 | Toxicological information | Health effects and routes of exposure |
| 12 | Ecological information | Effects on water and wildlife |
| 13 | Disposal considerations | How to dispose of waste and packaging |
| 14 | Transport information | UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, marine pollutant |
| 15 | Regulatory information | Safety, health and environmental rules that apply |
| 16 | Other information | Revision date, version, abbreviations |
Older MSDS sheets may have different headings. Ask the supplier for a current SDS in the 16-section format.
What section 14 must show
Transport information lets the carrier classify and label the shipment. Missing or wrong entries delay booking.
- 01
A four-digit number that identifies the substance or article, such as UN1950 for aerosols.
- 02
Proper shipping name
The official name used on all transport documents. It is not the trade name.
- 03
Hazard class
Class 1 to 9, such as 3 for flammable liquids, with subsidiary hazards where they apply.
- 04
I, II or III, for high, medium or low danger, where a class uses packing groups.
- 05
Marine pollutant
Whether the goods are a marine pollutant, which matters for sea transport.
- 06
Separate entries for sea (IMDG), air (IATA DGR) and road (ADR) where they differ.
What forwarders check on the sheet
Your forwarder and the carrier read the SDS before agreeing to move chemicals. Check these points first.
- 01
The sheet should be recent, in English and in the 16-section format.
- 02
Dangerous or not
Section 14 states whether the goods are classified as dangerous for transport. If so, the shipment needs a declaration and DG packaging.
- 03
Match to the label
Product name, UN number and class on the sheet must match the package label and the declaration.
They are the same document under different names. MSDS is the older term, used before the Globally Harmonized System. SDS is the current name, with a fixed 16-section format. Carriers and customs still accept the word MSDS, but a current sheet should follow the 16 sections.
- Ask your supplier for the latest version.
- Section 14 is for transport.
Almost always. Airlines, shipping lines and forwarders ask for the safety data sheet before accepting chemicals so they can decide whether the goods are dangerous. Customs may also request it. Without it, the booking can be refused or delayed until the sheet arrives.
- Send it with your booking request.
- It must be in English.
Section 14, Transport information. It lists the UN number, proper shipping name, hazard class and packing group, and says whether the goods are marine pollutants. The forwarder uses these entries to classify the shipment and prepare the dangerous goods declaration.
- Section 9 gives the flash point.
- Section 2 gives the hazards.
Often yes. Carriers may ask for a sheet to confirm the goods are not dangerous, especially for liquids, powders and goods that contain batteries. Section 14 should then say the product is not regulated for transport. Lithium batteries need a separate test summary.
- Perfumes and aerosols are regulated.
- Check each mode: sea, air, road.