MSDS vs. SDS: What Changed and What Your Team Needs to Know

TL;DR 

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and SDS (Safety Data Sheet) refer to the same type of chemical hazard document. In 2012, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which renamed MSDSs to SDSs and standardized their format to 16 sections. The content is more detailed, the format is universal, and compliance is mandatory. If your team still uses the term MSDS, you're not alone - but your documents need to meet today's SDS standard. 

What Is an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)? 

A Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, is a document that provides health and safety information about a chemical product. For decades, MSDSs were the standard way manufacturers communicated hazard, handling, and emergency response data to workers and employers. 

Before 2012, MSDS formats varied widely. There was no required structure. Manufacturers could organize sections however they chose, which made it difficult for workers to quickly find critical safety information - especially in emergencies. 

Despite the official name change, many procurement teams, EHS professionals, and enterprise buyers still search for and reference “MSDS” in daily operations. According to Google Trends data, the search term “MSDS” still generates significant monthly volume globally, particularly in industrial, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. 

What Is an SDS (Safety Data Sheet)? 

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is the updated, globally standardized version of the MSDS. It serves the same purpose - communicating chemical hazard information - but follows a specific 16-section format mandated by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), which aligns with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). 

The 16-section structure ensures that anyone reading an SDS, anywhere in the world, can find the information they need in the same place every time. This consistency is especially important for multinational organizations managing chemical inventories across countries and regulatory jurisdictions.

MSDS vs SDS: Key Differences at a Glance 

What Exactly Changed from MSDS to SDS? 

The transition from MSDS to SDS was not just a name change. OSHA's adoption of GHS in 2012 introduced several meaningful differences that affect how safety data sheets are authored, managed, and used across organizations. 

1. Standardized 16-Section Format 

Every SDS must follow the same 16-section order, from “Identification” (Section 1) to “Other Information” (Section 16). This eliminates the inconsistency that plagued the MSDS era, where critical data like first-aid measures could appear in different locations depending on the manufacturer. 

2. GHS Hazard Classification and Pictograms 

SDSs use a standardized system of hazard pictograms, signal words (Danger or Warning), and hazard statements based on GHS classification criteria. This replaces the inconsistent hazard descriptions that were common on older MSDS. Workers can now recognize chemical hazards at a glance, regardless of the country of origin. 

3. Consistent Exposure and Toxicological Data 

Sections 8 (Exposure Controls) and 11 (Toxicological Information) now require specific data points, including occupational exposure limits (OELs) and routes of exposure. This gives EHS teams the detailed information they need for risk assessments and workplace safety programs. 

4. Global Regulatory Alignment 

Because GHS is adopted by more than 70 countries, an SDS authored to GHS standards can serve as a foundation for compliance across multiple jurisdictions. This is a significant advantage over the old MSDS system, where companies often needed entirely different documents for different markets. 

Why Do People Still Search for “MSDS”? 

More than a decade after the transition from MSDS to SDS terminology, the term MSDS remains common in everyday use. There are several practical reasons for this. 

• Enterprise procurement systems and RFQ templates often still reference “MSDS” as a legacy standard term, especially at large organizations with decades-old documentation. 

• Workers trained before 2012 may default to the terminology they learned first, even though they understand and use the current SDS format. 

• Internal databases and document management systems may still categorize files under “MSDS” labels, and renaming at scale is a non-trivial effort. 

• Some jurisdictions outside the U.S. were slower to adopt GHS, so the MSDS terminology persisted longer in certain global markets. 

The takeaway: if your colleagues or suppliers still say “MSDS,” it does not indicate a lack of awareness. It's a reflection of deeply embedded workplace habits and legacy systems - particularly in Fortune 500 companies and large industrial operations. 

What Your Team Needs to Know  

Whether your organization is authoring SDSs, managing a chemical inventory, or responding to supplier documentation, there are a few things every EHS team should keep in mind. 

• All safety data sheets in your system should conform to the 16-section GHS format. If you still have legacy MSDS documents on file, they are not compliant with current OSHA requirements. 

• SDS authoring is not a one-time task. Regulations change, formulations change, and exposure data gets updated. Your SDSs need to be living documents with a clear revision process. 

• Multilingual and multi-country SDS authoring requires understanding local regulatory variations on top of the base GHS framework. Authoring tools that support jurisdiction-specific requirements can significantly reduce compliance risk. 

• Centralizing your SDS management reduces the chance of outdated sheets circulating among workers or showing up in audits. 

How to Get SDS Authoring Right 

Accurate, compliant SDS authoring requires deep regulatory expertise across jurisdictions and a system that can keep pace with evolving GHS requirements. Many organizations, particularly those managing hundreds or thousands of chemical products, turn to specialized SDS authoring solutions to reduce compliance risk and operational overhead. 

3E provides SDS authoring and management solutions used by organizations worldwide to create, maintain, and distribute compliant safety data sheets. In fact, 3E offers a 20M+ expert-managed SDS library, across 70+ languages. To learn more about how 3E can support your SDS program, learn more about 3E’s SDS Authoring solutions here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an MSDS the same as an SDS? 

Yes. An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) serve the same purpose: communicating chemical hazard information. The name and format changed in 2012 when OSHA adopted GHS. All MSDSs should now be replaced with 16-section SDS. 

When did MSDS become SDS? 

OSHA published the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012) on March 26, 2012. The full compliance deadline for the transition from MSDS to SDS was June 1, 2015. 

Are old MSDS still valid? 

No. Under current OSHA regulations, all safety data sheets must follow the GHS-aligned 16-section SDS format. Legacy MSDS do not meet compliance requirements and should be updated or replaced. 

Why do companies still use the term MSDS? 

Many organizations, especially large enterprises, have procurement systems, training materials, and internal databases that still reference MSDS as a legacy term. The terminology is deeply embedded in operational workflows, even though the actual documents have been updated to SDS format. 

How many sections does an SDS have? 

An SDS has exactly 16 sections, in a fixed order mandated by GHS and OSHA's HazCom 2012 standard. The sections cover identification, hazards, composition, first aid, firefighting, handling, exposure controls, physical properties, stability, toxicology, ecology, disposal, transport, regulatory information, and other information.