MSDS vs GHS Compliance: What Every Chemical Manufacturer Must Know in 2025

🧪 Introduction: Understanding Chemical Compliance in 2025

If you manufacture or export cleaning products, industrial solvents, cosmetics, adhesives, or agrochemicals, you’ve likely heard terms like MSDS, SDS, and GHS.

But what exactly do these mean? Are they different documents? Are both mandatory? And which one applies to Indian exporters, small-scale manufacturers, or those selling on Amazon or IndiaMART?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain:

• The difference between MSDS and GHS
• Why both are important for compliance
• Who needs to follow them
• What goes on a label vs a data sheet
• And how to stay legally safe while selling or exporting chemicals

Let’s begin.

📄 What is MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)?

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet — a document that provides detailed safety information about a chemical product.

It includes:

• Product composition
• Physical and chemical properties
• Health hazards
• First aid and fire-fighting instructions
• Handling and storage guidelines
• Regulatory information

✅ Purpose:

MSDS helps employers, handlers, workers, and buyers understand how to safely:

• Use
• Store
• Transport
• Dispose of a chemical product

📌 In India, MSDS is required for:

• Industrial chemicals
• B2B chemical sales
• Chemical exports
• Any product with acid, base, or solvent content

🧾 What is GHS (Globally Harmonized System)?

GHS is a global system of hazard classification and labeling, developed by the United Nations (UN).

It sets the rules for labeling chemicals with standardized icons, hazard levels, and safety instructions — regardless of which country you sell in.

📦 GHS Label Includes:

• Signal Word (Danger / Warning)
• Hazard Class (e.g., corrosive, flammable, toxic)
• Hazard Pictograms (GHS symbols)
• Precautionary Statements
• Product Name & Manufacturer Info
• Batch Number & Expiry

🧪 Example:
If you’re selling Hydrochloric Acid-based toilet cleaner, the GHS label must include a corrosive pictogram, and the warning “Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.”

📌 MSDS vs GHS: What’s the Difference?

✅ You must have both if you manufacture, store, or export any regulated chemical.

📋 MSDS Must Include These 16 Sections (SDS Format)

As per the new GHS-aligned format, MSDS is now commonly called SDS (Safety Data Sheet) and follows a 16-section format:

1. Identification
2. Hazard(s) Identification
3. Composition/Ingredients
4. First-aid Measures
5. Fire-fighting Measures
6. Accidental Release Measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
10. Stability and Reactivity
11. Toxicological Information
12. Ecological Information
13. Disposal Considerations
14. Transport Information
15. Regulatory Information
16. Other Information

⚠️ Incomplete MSDS = Export rejection or legal fine in many countries.

🌐 Is GHS Mandatory in India?

Yes. As of 2023–2025, India has adopted the GHS labeling standards under its Chemical Rules and Occupational Safety and Health guidelines.

Even home-use products like:

• Toilet cleaner
• Dishwashing liquid
• Adhesives
• Floor phenyl

must have correct GHS labels if:

• They contain corrosive, flammable, or irritant ingredients
• They’re sold in bulk to institutions
• They’re being exported or shipped across state borders

🧠 Pro Tip: Don’t rely on old label templates. Make sure they are GHS-compliant.

🛑 What Happens if You Skip MSDS or GHS?

Skipping compliance puts you at legal, financial, and reputational risk, including:

• Rejection of export shipments
• Denied entry at customs
• Fines from pollution control boards
• Delisting from online platforms like Amazon or Flipkart
• Loss of buyer trust
• Workplace safety violations

✅ GHS and MSDS protect you and your brand, especially in case of chemical accidents or injury.

📦 GHS Pictograms You Must Know

🧠 Who Needs MSDS and GHS in India?

• ✅ Manufacturers (even home-based)
• ✅ Chemical Traders
• ✅ Exporters
• ✅ Contract Packers / White-label manufacturers
• ✅ Bulk buyers (B2B supply)

Even if you’re only selling locally, GHS labeling is now being required by:

• Malls
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Govt tender authorities
• Online marketplaces (e.g., Amazon Global)

📤 MSDS for Export: Country-Specific Requirements

📌 For EU, MSDS must match REACH format. For the US, it must follow OSHA guidelines.

🧑‍💼 How to Create MSDS and GHS Documents

There are 3 main ways to get your compliance sorted:

1. Use a Consultant

Cost: ₹1,000–₹3,000 per product
Pros: Fast, accurate, includes GHS labels

2. Use Online MSDS Generator Tools

Websites like:

• Chemwatch
• SDS Manager
• GHS Authenticator

allow you to create compliant documents.

3. Do It Yourself

Using government guidelines and SDS templates.

⚠️ This option is best if you have prior experience or a chemist on board.

🧾 Free MSDS Sample Structure

Product Name: Liquid Toilet Cleaner  
Chemical Composition: HCL (10%), Surfactant, Perfume  
GHS Classification: Skin corrosion, Category 1  
Signal Word: Danger  
Pictogram: Corrosive  
First Aid: Wash immediately with plenty of water  
Storage: Store in cool, ventilated place, away from sunlight  
Disposal: Follow local hazardous waste rules

🔖 Where to Display MSDS and GHS Info?

• ✅ MSDS: Keep one copy with every shipment
• ✅ GHS Label: Must be printed on every bottle/container
• ✅ Website: Upload downloadable MSDS/SDS file
• ✅ Warehouse: Keep copies available for inspections

🧠 Final Thoughts: Stay Compliant, Stay Safe

In 2025 and beyond, MSDS and GHS compliance is not optional — it’s essential for chemical businesses that want to:

• Grow legally
• Export globally
• Maintain safety standards
• Win trust from B2B clients
• Avoid fines and bans

If you manufacture any kind of chemical-based product, take the time to create proper documentation and update your labels.