A recent EU-wide enforcement project led by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reveals that 35% of inspected safety data sheets (SDS) fail to meet compliance standards. While progress has been noted compared to prior initiatives, the report underscores significant gaps, particularly in adapting to new legal requirements introduced in 2023.
SDS Compliance Improves but Challenges Persist
Inspectors across 28 EU-EEA countries reviewed over 2,500 SDS as part of the Forum REF-11 harmonised enforcement project. Findings indicate that 35% of these crucial documents for chemical safety did not comply with updated regulations, either due to omissions or quality issues.
Abdulqadir Suleiman, chair of the Enforcement Forum’s working group, commented:
"These compliance improvements could be attributed to the harmonised requirements of REACH, great efforts by the industry, continued focus by enforcement authorities, but also the dialogue between enforcement and stakeholder organisations about improving the quality of safety data sheets held some years back."
Key Findings from the Report
- High Compliance in Distribution: The flow of SDS within the supply chain was robust, with 96% of required SDS being delivered.
- Major deficiencies included:
- Missing nanoform information in 67% of applicable SDS.
- Absence of endocrine-disrupting properties in 48%.
- Lack of exposure scenarios in 18%.
- Data Quality Issues: 27% of inspected SDS contained inaccuracies, notably in hazard identification, composition, and exposure controls.
- Non-Compliance with Authorisation Details: 16% of SDS omitted required information linked to authorisation decisions under REACH regulations.
Enforcement Actions and Recommendations
To address non-compliance, enforcement measures ranged from written advice to administrative penalties. ECHA recommends that companies adopt better practices for compiling SDS and remain proactive in updates as per the revised Annex II requirements of REACH (EU Regulation 2020/878).
Moving Forward
The report concludes with calls for enhanced awareness campaigns, improved enforcement strategies, and a future follow-up project to monitor compliance trends. ECHA also plans to collaborate with stakeholders to refine SDS compilation tools and guidance.
