A safety data sheet (SDS) describes the hazards of a chemical product and the measures for its safe handling. When exporting to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), it may form part of the mandatory product documentation and the documents required for conformity assessment.
For manufacturers and exporters, it is essential that the safety data sheet is appropriate for the specific product, the destination country and the applicable regulations. A translation of the European safety data sheet alone is not sufficient to demonstrate compliance with all requirements.
The safety data sheet replaces neither an EAC certificate nor an EAC declaration. Nor does it independently authorise EAC marking.
Overview of safety data sheets for the EAEU
The EAEU comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. In addition to common technical regulations, national requirements may be relevant. A safety data sheet prepared for Russia therefore cannot be used for all other member states without verification.
When preparing for export, the following points in particular must be clarified:
- Whether a safety data sheet is required for the specific product
- Applicable technical regulations and national provisions
- Applicable edition of the standard and transitional provisions
- Required language versions
- Details of responsible companies and emergency contacts
- Consistency with product labelling and delivery documents
- Updating following changes to the composition or hazard assessment
What is a safety data sheet?
A safety data sheet contains information on the properties and hazards of a chemical product, as well as appropriate protective and emergency measures. The English term is Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The older abbreviation MSDS, for Material Safety Data Sheet, also remains widely used.
In Russian‑language legislation and standards, the document is referred to as “паспорт безопасности химической продукции”. This means the safety passport for chemical products. It must be distinguished from a machine's technical passport and from a safety justification for installations.
The safety data sheet supports, among other things:
- The assessment of workplace hazards
- The selection of personal protective equipment
- Safe handling and storage
- The preparation of first‑aid and emergency measures
- The assessment of transport hazards
- Proper disposal
The United Nations GHS system provides an internationally widespread framework for the classification and hazard communication of chemical products. However, its legal implementation must be checked for the respective target market.
When is a safety data sheet required?
The phrase “safety data sheet for EAC certification” is often used as a collective term. In fact, not every product subject to EAC requirements needs a safety data sheet.
This check is particularly relevant for chemical substances and mixtures, for example:
- Lubricants and technical oils
- Coolants and other technical fluids
- Cleaning agents
- Adhesives and sealants
- Paints and coating materials
- Chemical raw materials and intermediates
These product examples do not in themselves establish a uniform EAC requirement. The required procedure depends on the specific product classification and the applicable regulations.
One example is TR ZU 030/2012 on requirements for lubricants, oils and special fluids. It requires a safety passport for the products covered. For new products covered, conformity is generally confirmed by means of a declaration. The scope and exemptions must be checked beforehand.
For machinery and equipment, however, a distinction must be made as to whether the enquiry concerns the technical product itself or chemical products supplied separately with it. A cleaning agent or lubricant supplied with the product may require a separate review of its safety documentation.
Regulations and GOST standards for data sheets
The regulatory assessment begins with the unambiguous identification of the product. The trade name and customs tariff code are often insufficient for this purpose. The composition, properties, intended use and form of supply must also be known.
A distinction must be made between:
- Mandatory requirements under technical regulations
- National regulations of the respective EAEU member state
- Standards for the structure and content of safety data sheets
- Dangerous goods regulations for the intended transport route
GOST 30333 for chemical products
GOST 30333 is a key series of standards for safety data sheets for chemical products. The edition to be applied must be determined by checking the destination country, the relevant lists of standards and the transitional provisions.
According to the official Rosstandart entry, the introduction of GOST 30333‑2022 in Russia is scheduled for 1 September 2027. GOST 30333‑2007 is listed as the edition being replaced. This implies neither an existing general obligation to apply the 2022 edition nor an identical introduction date for all EAEU states.
TR EAWU 041/2017 / Chemical products
For TR EAWU 041/2017 a distinction must be made between adoption and actual applicability. In this context, the Eurasian Economic Commission lists the adoption decision and Decision No. 61 of 1 August 2025 on the register of substances and notification.
For a specific export project, the effective entry into force and the relevant implementing provisions must be checked separately. Publication of the regulation alone does not establish a current general EAC certification requirement for all chemicals.
Contents of a safety data sheet
The internationally used GHS structure comprises 16 sections. The following overview describes their topics. Mandatory headings and detailed requirements depend on the applicable legal basis and edition of the standard.
Section | Content |
|---|---|
1 | Identification of the product and the responsible company |
2 | Hazard identification |
3 | Composition and information on ingredients |
4 | First‑aid measures |
5 | Firefighting measures |
6 | Accidental release measures |
7 | Handling and storage |
8 | Exposure controls and personal protective equipment |
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, including revision details |
A safety data sheet is not technically complete merely because all headings are present. The information must relate to the specific product and be based on traceable data. Missing information should be clearly identified. It must not be replaced by unsubstantiated statements such as “non‑hazardous”.
Is translating a European safety data sheet sufficient?
An existing German or English safety data sheet provides a valuable basis. However, translation does not replace a technical review for the target market.
When adapting the document, the following information in particular must be checked:
- Product identity and composition
- Hazard classification and label elements
- National occupational exposure limits
- Recommended protective measures
- Details of the manufacturer, supplier or importer
- Responsibilities and availability of emergency contacts
- Disposal guidance and regulatory provisions
- Transport classification
The required language versions depend on the specific regulations. Russian plays a central role in EAEU documentation. Additional requirements concerning the official language of the country of sale may apply. For products subject to TR ZU 030/2012, the specific language requirements for the safety passport, labelling and accompanying documentation must be observed.
Safety data sheet, EAC certificate and state registration
The various documents serve different purposes.
Document | Function |
|---|---|
Safety data sheet | Describes hazards and measures for safe handling |
EAC certificate | Confirms conformity under the prescribed certification procedure |
EAC declaration | Documents the declaration of conformity made by the eligible applicant under the prescribed procedure |
State registration, often referred to as SGR | Provides evidence of registration for products subject to the respective registration procedure |
Certificate of quality or analysis | Documents specific product or batch properties |
The required combination must be determined for each specific product. A registration number on a safety data sheet does not automatically provide evidence of state product registration or EAC conformity.
Documents for preparing a safety data sheet
A complete initial dossier facilitates processing and reduces follow‑up queries. Manufacturers and exporters should provide the following information in particular for the technical review:
- Current safety data sheet from the manufacturer, where available
- Product description and intended applications
- Composition with substance identities and CAS numbers
- Required concentration information
- Available test reports and substance data
- Technical data sheet
- Draft packaging and labels
- Details of the manufacturer and production site
- Details of the intended importer
- Destination countries, form of supply and transport routes
- Existing conformity or registration documents
For confidential formulations, the transmission method, access rights and necessary disclosure should be agreed in advance. The protection of trade secrets must be compatible with a robust hazard assessment.
Preparation and review process
- Identify the product and target market: First, the substance or mixture, use, form of supply and countries of sale are recorded. The applicable technical regulations, national provisions and editions of standards are then determined.
- Conduct a technical assessment of the source data: The available information is checked for completeness and inconsistencies. The composition, measured values and hazard information must be consistent. Missing information may necessitate follow‑up queries or additional investigations.
- Prepare and adapt the safety data sheet: The information is transferred into the required structure and language. Country‑specific details are adapted at the same time.
- Cross‑check documentation and labelling: The product name, responsible companies and hazard information are cross‑checked against labels, technical data sheets and, where applicable, conformity assessment documents.
- Approve and update the document: The approved version is assigned a traceable version identifier. Responsibilities for distribution and subsequent updates should be defined internally.
Practical example: Export of an industrial lubricant
A manufacturer plans to supply an industrial lubricant to Kazakhstan. A German‑language safety data sheet and a technical data sheet are already available.
First, it is checked whether the product falls within the scope of TR ZU 030/2012. For a new lubricant covered by this regulation, the prescribed declaration procedure and the requirements for accompanying documentation must be taken into account.
For the safety data sheet, the source data undergo a technical review, and the required language versions and local details are determined. In parallel, the information is cross‑checked against the container label and the product designations in the conformity documents.
One possible error would be to use a new trade name on the label while the safety data sheet still contains an old product name. Such discrepancies should be resolved before delivery.
The safety data sheet and the required EAC declaration are separate documents. Both must correspond to the same product and to the version actually supplied.
Common errors in safety data sheets
Typical sources of error can be reduced through a documented final review:
- Use of an old version despite a change in formulation
- Translation alone without technical adaptation
- Different product names on the label and in the safety data sheet
- Unverified emergency telephone numbers
- Missing information on the availability of contact persons
- Inconsistencies between hazard classification and protective measures
- Unsubstantiated statement “not dangerous goods”
- Confusion between a safety data sheet and a technical passport
- Use of an edition of a standard without checking its applicability
Costs and processing time
The cost of a safety data sheet depends in particular on the number of products and formulations, the quality of the source data, the language versions required and the extent of the technical review.
Additional investigations, registrations or conformity procedures are separate services. They should be listed separately in the quotation.
The processing time can also only be reliably estimated after the documentation has been reviewed. A complete initial dossier reduces follow‑up queries and facilitates scheduling.
Validity and updating of safety data sheets
A blanket validity period for all safety data sheets in all EAEU states would be misleading. The applicable regulations and, where relevant, the rules of a specific registration procedure are decisive.
The need for an update must be assessed in particular in the event of the following changes:
- Change in formulation or relevant constituents
- New findings on hazardous properties
- Change in hazard classification
- New protective measures or restrictions on use
- Change in legal requirements
- Change in responsible companies or emergency contacts
Whether the document is up to date should therefore not be assessed solely on the basis of its issue date.
Checklist before the first delivery
The following points should be clarified before exporting chemical products to the EAEU:
- Product identity, composition and use clearly described
- Destination countries and relevant regulations identified
- Edition of the standard and transitional provisions checked
- Required language versions prepared
- Hazard information professionally assessed
- Contact details and emergency information verified
- Safety data sheet, label and delivery documents cross‑checked
- Transport classification checked separately
- Required evidence of conformity and registrations clarified
- Responsibility for approval and updating defined
Prepare safety data sheets for your exports to the EAEU
For an initial technical review, you should compile the existing safety data sheet, the product description and the intended destination countries. This information provides a basis for determining the documentation required and the next steps.
Are you planning to export chemical products to the EAEU? Discuss with AC Inorms which safety documentation and evidence of conformity are required for your product. Further information is available on our page on EAC certification for the EAEU states.
Sources and further information
No. Whether a safety data sheet is required depends on the product and the applicable regulations. An EAC requirement alone does not establish a general obligation to prepare a safety data sheet.
No. The safety data sheet serves to communicate hazards. Any required EAC certificate or EAC declaration must be obtained through the prescribed procedure.
It can serve as a starting point. Before use, the language, classification, local information and applicable regulations must be checked. Translation alone does not constitute a conformity review.
Uniform application must not be assumed. Rosstandart currently specifies 1 September 2027 as the introduction date for Russia. Applicability in other member states and for specific procedures must be checked separately.
A blanket registration requirement for every safety data sheet throughout the EAEU cannot be assumed. The specific legal basis, destination country and, where applicable, the relevant registration system must be checked. Document registration must also be distinguished from state product registration.
The obligations depend on the respective role and legal basis. In particular, manufacturers and responsible suppliers must ensure that the product data used is reliable. Engaging a service provider does not replace the provision of accurate source information.
Yes. The dangerous goods classification must be appropriate for the product and the intended transport route. A safety data sheet does not replace any required dangerous goods transport documents.
A review is needed in particular when formulations change, new hazard information becomes available, protective measures change or new legal requirements arise. Changes to the responsible companies or emergency contacts may also require revision.
