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SDS vs MSDS: What's the Difference?
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) was the older, non-standardized US format. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is the 16-section format standardized globally under the GHS, and is now the required term under Malaysia's CLASS 2013 and Singapore's SS 586. The documents serve the same purpose — today, “SDS” is the compliant term to use.
SDS vs MSDS at a Glance
| MSDS | SDS | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Material Safety Data Sheet | Safety Data Sheet |
| Standardization | Not standardized; format varied by manufacturer | Standardized 16-section GHS format |
| Origin | Primarily a US / OSHA-era term | Global standard under the UN GHS |
| Current status | Deprecated / legacy term | Current, compliant term |
| Malaysia (CLASS 2013) | Not accepted as sole documentation | Required format |
| Singapore (SS 586) | Not accepted as sole documentation | Required format |
| Typical sections | Varied, often 8–14 sections, no fixed order | Fixed 16 sections in a fixed order |
Why the Terminology Changed
The shift from MSDS to SDS followed the global rollout of the UN's Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Before GHS, individual countries and even individual manufacturers used their own MSDS formats, so a document from a German supplier could look nothing like one from a US supplier.
Malaysia adopted the GHS-standardized SDS requirement through the CLASS Regulations 2013, and Singapore through SS 586. Both replaced the older, inconsistent MSDS approach with the fixed 16-section SDS format — which is why “MSDS” no longer appears in either country's current regulatory text.
People Also Ask
Is MSDS still an acceptable term to use?
Informally, people still say “MSDS” to mean the same document. Formally, regulators in Malaysia and Singapore only recognize “SDS” in the current 16-section GHS format.
If my supplier sent an old MSDS, is it still valid?
Not on its own. An old-format MSDS typically needs to be reformatted and translated into the current 16-section SDS structure before it satisfies CLASS 2013 or SS 586.
Does the hazard information actually differ between the two?
The underlying chemical hazard hasn't changed — what changed is how it's classified and communicated. GHS introduced standardized signal words, hazard statements and pictograms that older MSDS formats didn't use.
Can you convert an MSDS into a compliant SDS?
Yes — this is a common part of our work. We reformat the content into the 16-section structure and translate it to meet CLASS 2013 or SS 586 requirements.
Need an Old MSDS Converted and Translated?
We'll reformat and translate it into a compliant 16-section SDS. Start with a free assessment.