Standard SDS Sections You Need to Know before Filing Materials Safety Data Sheet Amazon FBA Requirement

Many sellers face problems when it came to HAZMAT or even regular products for which Amazon would require submission of Safety Data Sheet (SDS) while creating or converting the listings from FBM (Merchant Fulfilled) to FBA (Amazon Fulfilled).

Being a Chemical Engineer I have studied different courses of HEALTH, SAFETY and ENVIRONMENT so have reasonable knowledge for the preparation of SDS. Therefore, I am posting here about all 16 Standard SDS Sections You Need to Know before Filing Materials Safety Data Sheet Amazon FBA Requirement that must be filled with relevant particulars before it is submitted to Amazon.

Mandatory Sections of Safety Data Sheet for Amazon FBA

  1. The Identification
    • Product Identifier (UPC, EAN, GTIN, etc.)
    • Manufacturer or Distributor Name
    • Address of Supplier
    • Phone/Contact Number of Supplier
  2. Hazard Identification
    • All hazards regarding the product and required label elements
    • Hazard Classifications
    • Pictograms
    • Signal Word
    • Hazard Statement
  3. Composition / Information on Ingredients
    • Information on chemical Ingredients and trade secret claims i.e. CAS Number.
  4. First Aid Measures
    • Whether first aid treatment might be required upon exposure to a chemical and the symptoms that indicates exposure.
  5. Fire Fighting Measures
    • The techniques and equipment recommended for extinguishing a fire involving the chemical and hazards that may be created during combustion.
  6. Accidental Release measures
    • Steps to take in the event of a spill or release involving the chemical. Includes
    • Emergency Procedure
    • Protective Equipment
    • The proper method for containment and clean-up
  7. Handling and Storage
    • Precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
  8. Exposure Control / Personal Protection
    • OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PELs)
    • Threshold limit values (TLVs)
    • Appropriate engineering controls (AECs)
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)
  9. Physical and Chemical Properties
    • The mention of chemical & physical characteristics i.e Color, Odor, Matter, melting or boiling points of the substance etc.
  10. Stability and Reactivity
    • Chemical Stability and possible hazardous reactions.
  11. Toxicological Information
    • Routes of exposure (Inhalation, Ingestion, or absorption contact)
    • Symptoms
    • Acute and Chronic effects
    • Numerical measures of toxicity
  12. Ecological Information
    • How the chemical might affect the environment and the duration of the effect.
  13. Disposal Considerations
    • Have to describe the safe handling of wastes and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging.
  14. Transportation Information
    • Packing
    • Marking
    • Labelling requirement for hazardous chemical shipments.
  15. Regulatory Information
    • Indicates regulations that apply to chemicals.
  16. Other Information
    • Includes the date of the revision or last revision and other information.

Mostly manufacturers provide these sheets but if not then you have to hire a professional to make one for you. Here’s the link to a sheet of a chemical which I prepared for you guys to understand things more clearly.

To avoid classification delays, make sure that your SDS complies with the requirements listed above. Use the Lookup an ASIN tool in your seller central to check the status of your product.

Amazon’s Guidelines For Hazmat Products

Now that we have covered what a SDS should ideally contain in most circumstances, let us take a quick look at what are the general guidelines of Amazon itself regarding HAZMAT products and SDS(s).

Dangerous goods (Hazmat)

  1. New listings: When creating a listing for FBA, you must include dangerous goods information for both batteries and products regulated as dangerous goods. (Start by clicking Add dangerous goods information in the workflow.) Make sure to provide accurate and complete information so that your product is properly classified and not blocked for sale.
  2. Existing listings: The Dangerous Goods team reviews each ASIN converted to FBA if the product is identified as a possible dangerous good.

Products with complete and correct dangerous goods information will be reviewed and classified within four business days. (Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays.) Products with incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting information may be blocked for sale through FBA.

To ensure that your product is classified correctly, one or both of the following documents might also be required:

Products with complete and correct dangerous goods information will be reviewed and classified within four business days. (Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays.) Products with incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting information may be blocked for sale through FBA.

To ensure that your product is classified correctly, one or both of the following documents might also be required:

  • A safety data sheet: If you haven’t uploaded an SDS, the one that you uploaded is not valid, or the information in it is contradictory, obtain a complete and correct SDS from the manufacturer and upload it. If your product does not contain any harmful chemicals (for example, alcohol, acid, and sodium) and you can’t obtain an SDS, upload an exemption sheet.
  • Exemption sheet: If you haven’t provided complete and accurate information, upload an exemption sheet for both batteries and battery-powered products or for products without harmful chemicals.

Amazon regularly reviews products in our fulfillment centers that may be regulated as dangerous goods to ensure that shipments comply with regulations and safety standards. If your product is found to be missing complete dangerous goods information, we’ll ask you to submit either an SDS or exemption sheet.

Important: If your product is identified as a possible dangerous good while inventory is already in an Amazon fulfilment centre, we will notify you by email. You will have 14 business days to provide the requested documentation. If the documentation is not provided during this period, the inventory will be disposed of, at your expense.

Products That May Be Regulated As Dangerous Goods

These product categories don’t contain every potential dangerous good. However, they offer useful examples of dangerous goods that could be among your listings.

Apparel

  • Hats and vests with rechargeable batteries
  • Hat stiffener
  • Apparel stain remover

Automotive

  • Engine and tire care
  • Interior and paint care
  • Oils and fluids
  • Lead-acid batteries
  • Spillable and non-spillable batteries
  • Airbags

Baby

  • Baby grooming and skincare
  • Antibacterial products

Beauty and personal care

  • Spray deodorants
  • Hairspray
  • Hair colors
  • Hair dyes
  • Perfume
  • Essential oils
  • Self-tanning lotions and sprays
  • Antiseptics and disinfectants
  • Verruca and wart treatments
  • Insect repellents
  • Aftershave treatments
  • Cleaning cartridges (electric shavers)
  • Hair removal solutions and treatments
  • Shaving creams or foams
  • Nail polish

Books

  • Songbooks
  • Magazines with beauty product samples
  • E-book devices, e-readers

Consumer electronics

  • Power Banks
  • Cell phones
  • Chargers and batteries
  • Darkroom supplies
  • Speakers

Food and beverages

  • Aromatic essential oils
  • Products with high alcohol content
  • Foods in pressurized container/aerosol format (for example, whipped cream)
  • Spirits

Health and household

  • Cleansers and cleaners
  • Dishwashing liquids and powders
  • Laundry liquids and powders

Home improvement

  • Grills
  • Pest and insect control

Office

  • Cartridges and toners
  • Equipment cleansers
  • Tape, adhesives, and glue
  • Markers, highlighters, pens, and refills

Pet products

  • Ear and eye care
  • Flea, fly, mosquito, lice, and tick control
  • Itch remedies
  • Deodorizers
  • Aquarium glass cleaners
  • Aquarium water treatments and test kits

Shoes and bags

  • Light-up shoes
  • Sole and shoe stain remover
  • Shoe polish

Sports and outdoor

  • Airsoft supplies
  • Camp stoves
  • Hand warmers
  • E-bikes and e-scooters
  • Bike tools and equipment
  • Spillable and non-spillable batteries
  • Life Saving vests

Toys

  • Battery-operated toys
  • Arts and crafts
  • Building kits
  • Chemistry sets
  • Painting and repair kits
  • Kits with sprays
  • Crackers

Video games

  • Controllers
  • Wireless and Bluetooth headsets
  • Gamepads

FAQ: What good does SDS do?

An SDS enables Amazon to

  • Determine whether your products are regulated as dangerous goods
  • Correctly classify your products as either dangerous goods or non-dangerous goods (the classification determines how products are stored and transported)
  • Determine the correct handling and disposal measures if a product spills or leaks at a fulfillment center
  • Confirm your products as non-regulated goods

To be compliant, an SDS must

  • Be created or updated within the past five years
  • Include new GHS/CLP hazard identification information
  • Match your product listing
  • Listing title (the product name, as it appears on the detail page) is the same as the product name shown on the SDS
  • Manufacturer or brand name of your product on the SDS is the same as what appears on the detail page
  • Include all 16 standard SDS sections

Hazmat Review Will Result In One Of Several Options

  • The ASIN was reviewed and identified as Not Hazmat.
  • The ASIN was reviewed and identified as Hazmat.
  • The ASIN was reviewed but couldn’t be classified since additional information is required to classify the product.
  • The ASIN was reviewed but couldn’t be classified since the uploaded documentation is incomplete.
  • The ASIN was reviewed but couldn’t be classified since the uploaded documentation does not match the product.

If your ASIN receives #3-#5 as feedback, double-check your SDS form to ensure all the information meets the criteria. One common mistake is that the title does not match the ASIN exactly.

SDS Form Common Mistakes

  • The product name or brand on the SDS does not exactly match the product name or brand on the detail page.
  • Information in the hazard identification section and the transportation section conflicts. For example, the hazard identification section states the product is flammable but the transportation section does not.
  • The SDS does not contain all 16 mandatory sections.
  • The product’s flash point is below 140 degrees Fahrenheit but the product is declared as not regulated, instead of flammable, in the transportation section.
  • The SDS is either not dated or is over 5 years old.
  • The seller uploaded an invalid document instead of an SDS, such as a test report or certification sheet.

Uploading Safety Data Sheets

To upload an SDS, go to the upload dangerous goods documents tool. The Dangerous Goods team will review your SDS within four business days.

Exemption sheets

For products that don’t require an SDS, an exemption sheet is acceptable for these two categories only:

  • Battery and battery-powered products
  • Products without harmful chemicals

Author – Muhammad Zaman Ilyas (Originally posted in Ecommerce Outset)

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