Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Do You Need an SDS to Ship Hazmat Products?

If FedEx just asked for something called an SDS, this guide’s for you.

clipboard with SDS form, fragile label, and pen on hazmat package for shipping compliance

Essential paperwork for safe and compliant hazmat shipping—from SDS to shipping declarations.

We’re taking a wild guess here, but “federal shipping regulations” and “hazmat compliance” probably weren’t top of mind when you started building your brand.

You were focused on the good stuff: product offerings, formulas, packaging, and the customer experience—NOT whether your serum, hair product, or candle counted as a flammable substance under the DOT.

And yet, here you are, 3 hours deep in the hazmat shipping rabbit hole Googling, "What the heck is a Safety Data Sheet?” and “Where do I even get one?"

The good news? This guide answers everything you want (and didn’t want) to know about Safety Data Sheets, including:

Why it matters (Safety!)
Whose asking for it (Carriers, 3PLs, and the Feds!)
How to get your hands on one (Hint: your manufacturer!)

Let’s demystify the SDS–one confusing acronym at a time 👇

(Pssst: Needing a hazmat crash-course from the top? Click over to our full Hazmat Shipping Guide!)

What is a Safety Data Sheet?

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)—now more commonly called a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)—is a document detailing a product’s chemical composition, hazards, handling, storage, and emergency procedures. It’s required for products classified as hazardous under OSHA, DOT, or IATA regulations.

You’ll need an MSDS if your product contains hazardous ingredients—common in beauty, wellness, or lifestyle items with flammable or reactive substances. Carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL may request it to confirm your shipment meets hazmat packaging and labeling standards.

Here's an Overview:

SDS Section	What It Covers
Chemical composition and CAS numbers	Lists the chemical ingredients and their official registry numbers (CAS numbers)
Physical and chemical properties	Describes characteristics like flash point, boiling point, and appearance
Identified hazards and warning labels	Details any health, fire, or environmental hazards with required label elements
Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions	Outlines how to safely store, handle, and dispose of the product
Emergency response and first aid guidelines	Provides instructions for emergencies like spills or exposure incidents
Transport and shipping classifications	Defines proper shipping names, hazard classes, and UN numbers for transport

Safety Data Sheet showing Sections 1 and 2 with hazard symbols, warnings, and company contact details

From classification to compliance—hazmat logistics starts with the right documentation.

What's the difference between MSDS and SDS?

Short answer: Nothing! They're two names for basically the same document.

Long answer: MSDS stands for "Material Safety Data Sheet". SDS stands for "Safety Data Sheet". They’re essentially the same document, but “SDS” is the updated, globally recognized term used under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)—an international standard created to unify hazard communication across countries and industries.

The GHS guidelines, adopted in the U.S. by OSHA in 2012, officially replaced the older MSDS format with the SDS structure. The SDS includes 16 standardized sections to ensure consistency in how safety information is shared between manufacturers, warehouses, carriers, and regulatory agencies.

So why do people still refer to it as MSDS? Habit. 🤷‍♂️

“MSDS” was used for decades, and many in the shipping, logistics, and eCommerce world still use it informally, even though “SDS” is the correct technical term today.

If a carrier, 3PL, or warehouse team asks for an MSDS, they’re really asking for an SDS—so don’t get tripped up by the lingo. They both refer to the same essential document that keeps your hazmat shipments safe and compliant.

What products typically need an SDS?

You’ll need to provide a Safety Data Sheet if your products contain ingredients classified as hazardous under regulatory standards from OSHA, DOT, or IATA.

Think: products that can burn 🔥 or combust 💥

Products that commonly fall under the hazmat category are:

Flammable waxes or fragrance oils
Alcohol-based perfumes, body sprays, or tinctures
Pressurized aerosols
Concentrated essential oils
Cleaning products or solvents
Nail polish and removers

For DTC brands, this typically applies to shipping beauty, wellness, or lifestyle goods like perfumes and fragrances, candles, nail polish, aerosol hair products, tinctures, and some skincare serums.

Red fragile shipping label on cardboard box for hazmat handling

Hazmat shipping isn’t just about packaging—it starts with the proper paperwork.

Why do carriers require an SDS to ship my product? What happens if I don’t supply one?

Carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL may request a Safety Data Sheet to verify that your packaging, labeling, and documentation meet their hazmat requirements for shipping. It’s their way of making sure everyone, from warehouse workers to delivery drivers, handles the shipment safely and in compliance with their internal policies and federal regulations.

Safety Data Sheets act as a universal document that helps:

Carriers confirm proper packaging and labeling
3PLs handle and store inventory safely
Fulfillment teams prevent accidental exposure or mishandling
Regulatory agencies (like DOT, OSHA, and IATA) assess compliance for air and ground shipping.

If your product meets hazmat criteria and you DON'T provide an SDS, or if the details are incomplete, the consequences can be steep:

Your shipments may be delayed or rejected
You could face fines or legal penalties
Your inventory might be returned to the sender or destroyed.

Bottom line: Do some research to know if your products are classified “Hazardous", and if so, make sure you have a completed SDS easily accessible for carriers and warehouse workers.

Who provides an SDS and where do I find mine?

In most cases, your product manufacturer or supplier is responsible for providing the Safety Data Sheet to you.

Depending on the vendor, SDS forms may be shared:

Via email when you place your first order
Included in your technical documentation packet for bulk or international shipments
Available through a vendor portal or download link (especially if you’re working with a lab or large-scale manufacturer)

If you’re creating a custom formulation or working with a contract lab, you may need to request that one be created, or partner with an SDS-authorizing service to generate it based on your ingredient list.

Simply put, If you can't find it, ask your manufacturer. They should have a copy on hand and will forward it to you.

Get your SDS fulfillment-ready in 3 easy steps

Once you’ve secured your Safety Data Sheet, the next step is making sure it’s easily accessible and properly used across your fulfillment workflow. Here’s how to prepare your SDS for shipping success:

1. Store it somewhere accessible (for you and your partners)

We recommend saving a digital copy of your Safety Data Sheet in a folder with other compliance documents in your shared cloud storage (AKA: Google Drive, Dropbox, etc) so it can be easily accessed whenever requested.

If you work with a 3PL or warehouse, make sure they also have access. Many fulfillment teams will keep this documentation on file to reference during receiving, labeling, or claim investigations.

2. Share it with your 3PL before inventory arrives

Proactivity is your friend here. If your product requires special handling, send the SDS in advance so your 3PL can prep compliant labels, storage assignments, and pick/pack procedures.

Not only will it save you AND them a lot of time, you'll also become their new BFF. Win-win 🙌

3. Double-check your product labeling

For products classified as hazardous, your packaging or outer cartons may need to display required information such as:

UN number (e.g., UN 1170 for ethyl alcohol)
Hazard class (e.g., Class 3 for flammable liquids)
Proper shipping name and handling symbols

Your SDS will tell you what’s needed—make sure those details are passed along to your label printer, packaging supplier, or fulfillment team.

Proper documentation is the backbone of safe and legal hazmat transportation.

Why SDS compliance matters for DTC brands

If you care about protecting your brand and building trust with your customers, you need to take hazmat and SDS compliance seriously.

Without a Safety Data Sheet, your fulfillment warehouse and carriers won't know how to keep themselves AND your products safe in transit. And worst yet, your customers could receive damaged or spoiled products, risking their health and their trust.

But let's be real. Adding hazmat compliance to a growing logistics roster can really tip the scales into the "chaotic and overwhelmed" category for many brands. And even with a dialed-in system, it's easy for things like SDS paperwork to fall through the cracks.

If you feel trapped in never-ending compliance rules and paperwork, it might be worth looking to outsource logistics to a trusted 3PL.

At Nice Commerce, we geek out over things that bore others to tears and have helped folks, like this luxury perfume brand, fix operational blindspots and scale into new territories.

If avoiding fines, being on shipping carrier's good sides, and building customer trust is important to you, reach out to our team! We'd love to talk shop about your pain points and ways to foster growth!