Prerequisites:
Do you know REACH regulation on Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)? Do you know what are the obligations regarding a compliant MSDS, according to your user status - e.g.: downstream or formulator?
Translation of the MSDS: a regulatory requirement
REACH provides for an obligation to translate your MSDS. According to article 31, paragraph 5 "The safety data sheet shall be supplied in an official language of the Member State(s) where the substance or preparation is placed on the market, unless the Member State(s) concerned provide otherwise."
Currently, there are 24 official languages in Europe. If you import substances or mixtures, you must ensure that you provide an SDS according to the mother tongue of the employee or a language that he understands.
If for example you are importing in Belgium, you must provide a MSDS in the two official languages: French and Flemish.
Toward a harmonization at the European level?
There is at the European level a catalogue of standard phrases for Materail Safety Data Sheets that is called EuPhrac. This catalogue was originally written in English and Gernman. It gather phrases that are common used in the material safety data sheets.
However, there is no official translation of this catalogue in the 24 other European languages.
Which methodology for MSDS translation?
It might be complicated to translate a MSDS insofar as the translator must have knowledge in chemistry and occupationnal hazards. Otherwise, there is a risk to make a mistake that impacts the security of the worker.
The content of the MSDS must besides be adapted to regional regulatory specificities (emergency call number in section 1, occupational exposure limit values in section 8, list of the regulations that correspond to the substance in section 15).
Thus, you can choose one of the two following solutions to translate your MSDSs:
- Ask a translation agency
- Use specific software for MSDS translation
Let's point out that the use of a software solution is especially meaningful in the case of numerous MSDSs.
Prerequisites:
Do you know REACH regulation on Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)? Do you know what are the obligations regarding a compliant MSDS, according to your user status - e.g.: downstream or formulator?
Translation of the MSDS: a regulatory requirement
REACH provides for an obligation to translate your MSDS. According to article 31, paragraph 5 "The safety data sheet shall be supplied in an official language of the Member State(s) where the substance or preparation is placed on the market, unless the Member State(s) concerned provide otherwise."
Currently, there are 24 official languages in Europe. If you import substances or mixtures, you must ensure that you provide an SDS according to the mother tongue of the employee or a language that he understands.
If for example you are importing in Belgium, you must provide a MSDS in the two official languages: French and Flemish.
Toward a harmonization at the European level?
There is at the European level a catalogue of standard phrases for Materail Safety Data Sheets that is called EuPhrac. This catalogue was originally written in English and Gernman. It gather phrases that are common used in the material safety data sheets.
However, there is no official translation of this catalogue in the 24 other European languages.
Which methodology for MSDS translation?
It might be complicated to translate a MSDS insofar as the translator must have knowledge in chemistry and occupationnal hazards. Otherwise, there is a risk to make a mistake that impacts the security of the worker.
The content of the MSDS must besides be adapted to regional regulatory specificities (emergency call number in section 1, occupational exposure limit values in section 8, list of the regulations that correspond to the substance in section 15).
Thus, you can choose one of the two following solutions to translate your MSDSs:
- Ask a translation agency
- Use specific software for MSDS translation
Let's point out that the use of a software solution is especially meaningful in the case of numerous MSDSs.
