EU CLP and REACH Safety Data Sheet Requirements Explained
What EU CLP (Regulation 1272/2008) and REACH (Regulation 1907/2006, Annex II) require for Safety Data Sheets: when an SDS is needed, language, UFI, and how the UK differs after Brexit.
Two EU regulations decide what a Safety Data Sheet must contain. The CLP Regulation, (EC) No 1272/2008, governs how substances and mixtures are classified, labelled and packaged. The REACH Regulation, (EC) No 1907/2006, requires an SDS to be supplied and sets its format in Annex II.
When an SDS is required
In general, suppliers must provide an SDS for substances and mixtures classified as hazardous under CLP, for substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), and for substances on the candidate list of substances of very high concern. Some mixtures that are not classified as hazardous must still be supplied with an SDS on request if they contain certain hazardous substances above set concentrations. Check the regulation for your specific case.
Content and format
REACH Annex II sets the 16-section format and the information required in each section. The Annex has been amended several times, most recently by Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878. Compared with the GHS baseline, the EU format adds requirements such as the Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) in Section 1 for mixtures subject to poison-centre notification, and more detailed information on substances such as nanoforms and endocrine-disrupting properties.
Language
The SDS must be provided in the official language or languages of each Member State where the substance or mixture is placed on the market, unless that Member State provides otherwise. If you sell into several countries, plan translations from the start.
CLP labels
CLP labels use the GHS elements plus EU-specific features: the environmental pictogram is required where applicable, and supplementary information and size rules apply to small packages. See GHS label requirements.
Great Britain
Since Brexit, Great Britain has its own versions, GB CLP and UK REACH, which are similar to the EU rules but separately maintained. An SDS supplied in Great Britain should name a UK-based supplier or contact and follow the UK format and classifications. Treat the EU and GB as two markets.
Practical tips
- Use harmonised classifications (CLP Annex VI) where they exist and do not downgrade them.
- Classify mixtures from component data using the CLP calculation rules, with specific concentration limits and M-factors where they apply.
- Keep the SDS, label and any poison-centre notification consistent with each other.
- Update the SDS when new hazard information or regulatory changes arise, and record the revision.
If you are exporting to the EU, see our export checklist for chemicals.
Frequently asked questions
- Which regulation sets the format of an EU Safety Data Sheet?
REACH, in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, as amended. CLP provides the classification and labelling rules that feed into it.
- What is a UFI and where does it go?
The Unique Formula Identifier is a code linking a mixture to its composition for poison-centre notification. It is shown on the label and, for relevant mixtures, in Section 1 of the SDS.
- Do I need a separate SDS for the UK?
Usually yes. Great Britain applies its own CLP and REACH rules, so an SDS for the GB market should follow them, including a UK-based supplier or contact.
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