Safety Data Sheet

Suppliers of hazardous substances and mixtures must prepare safety data sheets with information about the properties and hazards of the chemical or mixture. The safety data sheet must also contain information about the necessary precautions to be taken when using the substance or mixture.

Article 31 of the REACH Regulation states when the supplier is required to prepare a safety data sheet. This is the case:

a) if a substance or a mixture meets the criteria for classification as hazardous under the CLP Regulation (1272/2008); or

b) if a substance is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) pursuant to the criteria in Annex XIII of REACH; or

c) if, for other reasons, a substance is on the list of candidates for possible authorisation pursuant to Article 59(1) in REACH.

Furthermore, safety data sheets must be prepared if a mixture does not meet the criteria for classification as hazardous in accordance with Titles I and II of the CLP Regulation no. 1272/2008, but contains:

d) in an individual concentration of ≥ 1% by weight for non-gaseous preparations and ≥ 0.2% by volume for gaseous preparations, at least one substance posing human health or environmental hazards; or

e) in an individual concentration of ≥ 0.1% by weight for non-gaseous mixtures at least one substance that is carcinogenic category 2 or toxic to reproduction category 1A, 1B and 2, skin sensitiser category 1, respiratory sensitiser category 1, or has effects on or via lactation or is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex XIII or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex XIII or has been included for reasons other than those referred to in point (a) in the list established in accordance with Article 59(1); or

f) a substance for which there are Community workplace exposure limits. 

Form and content of safety data sheets

Annex II of the REACH Regulation describes how suppliers are to prepare safety data sheets and the items to be included in such sheets. The requirements for a safety data sheet are as follows:

• That it contains all 16 items and headings stipulated in the Annex.
• That it is worded in Danish for substances and mixtures sold in or to Denmark.
• That it provides information about Danish regulations e.g. on occupational safety and health (OSH) such as MAL codes, special provisions in the Executive Order on Cancer, limitations for young people, requirements for special training and other Danish OSH regulations.

Where the substance or mixture is sold to other EU countries, the supplier is obligated to ensure the availability of the safety data sheet in the relevant language. Furthermore, the safety data sheet must contain the current national rules of the relevant country.

Suppliers of certain substances must provide an exposure scenario along with the safety data sheet.