What Is an MSDS and Why Do You Need One?

Imagine you’re shipping a batch of nail polish remover and it clears customs without issue. The next shipment of the same product from the same supplier gets held.

The reason for the hold? A missing Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). MSDS requirements aren’t always applied consistently, if you’re shipping something that can potentially be held, it helps to know what one is, how to get it, and when you might need to prepare one for your shipment.

What is an MSDS?

An MSDS, short for Material Safety Data Sheet, is a document that describes a product's chemical composition, its known hazards, and how to handle, store, and respond to it safely. It exists so that everyone who touches the product along the supply chain, warehouse staff, freight handlers, customs officers, and eventually you as the recipient, knows what they're dealing with before something goes wrong.

Not every product needs a MSDS. For resellers, the products that commonly need an MSDS include perfumes, aerosols, cleaning products, batteries, paints, adhesives, and certain skincare formulations with high alcohol or acid content.

Generally, if a product wouldn't need a warning label at a pharmacy or hardware store, it usually doesn't need an MSDS either.

What does an MSDS contain?

Formats vary by supplier and by country, but most MSDS covers the same ground. The sections you'll typically see are:

• Product identification: the product name, manufacturer, and intended use.
• Hazard classification and warning symbols: what category of risk applies, flammable, corrosive, irritant, and the standardised symbols that go with it.
• Composition and ingredients: the chemical makeup, including concentration ranges for anything hazardous.
• First aid measures: what to do if the product is inhaled, ingested, or contacts skin or eyes.
• Handling and storage conditions: temperature limits, ventilation needs, materials to keep it away from.
• Transport information: the UN number and hazard class, which is what carriers and customs actually use to classify the shipment.
• Disposal instructions: how to dispose of the product and its packaging safely.

For shipping purposes specifically, the transport information and the hazard classification are what a freight forwarder or customs officer will check first. Everything else is useful, but those two sections are typically what clears or holds your shipment.

What is the purpose of a safety data sheet in international shipping?

An MSDS serves four practical purposes once a product enters the freight system.

First, customs clearance. Many customs authorities require an MSDS before they'll release hazardous or potentially hazardous goods, and without it, your shipment simply doesn't move.

Second, carrier acceptance. Airlines and sea carriers need the document to classify the cargo correctly and confirm they're able to accept it under dangerous goods (DG) rules.

Third, safe handling in transit. The document tells warehouse and cargo staff how to store and move the goods without creating a hazard for themselves or the rest of the shipment.

Fourth, liability protection. Correctly declaring a hazardous product protects you as the shipper if something does go wrong in transit. Undeclared hazardous cargo is a liability problem, not just a paperwork one.

Which products need an MSDS when shipping?

As a rough guide, these categories commonly require one: perfumes, cosmetics like nail polish and nail polish remover, aerosols, lithium batteries, cleaning products, adhesives, paints, high-concentration actives, and essential oils.

These generally don't: clothing, most food products, standard toys, and ceramics or homeware without chemical components.

The caveat worth remembering is that requirements vary by carrier, by route, and by destination country. What clears without question on one route can get flagged on another. If you're unsure whether a specific product needs an MSDS for your shipment, confirm with your freight forwarder before it ships rather than after it's sitting in a warehouse.

Regulations are subject to change. Verify all requirements against the relevant government sources before placing orders.

How to get an MSDS

Getting hold of the document is usually simpler than resellers expect.

• Ask your supplier. They should already have one on file. Request it at the time of order, not after the goods have shipped.
• Check the brand's official website. Many manufacturers publish MSDSs directly on the product page or in a dedicated documents section.
• Ask your freight forwarder. They handle MSDS requests daily and can tell you exactly what your specific route requires.
• Keep a copy on file. Once you have it for a product, save it. You'll need it again for every future shipment of the same item.

If a supplier can't produce an MSDS for a product that clearly needs one, treat that as a sourcing red flag rather than a paperwork inconvenience.

MSDS and Com&Buy: what to know before you ship

Com&Buy may request an MSDS for certain product types, chemicals, fragrances, and batteries among them. This is standard practice across international freight, not a Com&Buy-specific requirement, and it protects your shipment from being held or rejected further down the line.

If you're unsure whether your stock needs one, get in touch before it arrives at the warehouse. It's a far easier conversation to have with your supplier before shipping than to have with a warehouse full of held stock afterwards. Our team can advise on whether a specific product category needs an MSDS for your route before you use our parcel shipping service.

Want to learn more about shipping for resellers? Read our guide on How to Import Taiwan Products to Singapore for Your Online Store.

FAQ

Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?

Yes. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is the older, legacy term, while Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is the globally recognised, modernised term for chemical safety documents. Either is generally accepted for shipping purposes.

Do I need an MSDS to ship skincare products internationally?

It depends on the chemicals and formulation of the product. High-alcohol or high-acid products typically need an MSDS. Check with your supplier, or ask Com&Buy if you're not sure.

What happens if I ship without an MSDS when one is required?

The shipment gets held, rejected, or fined, depending on the carrier and destination.