How old can a safety data sheet (SDS) be?
The law sets no maximum age for a safety data sheet (SDS). It must be current: the supplier must update it as soon as there is new information on the hazards or the control measures, and since 1 January 2023 every SDS a supplier provides must follow the new format.
Source: REACH Regulation art. 31(5) and (9); Regulation (EU) 2020/878 art. 2; in the Netherlands: Arbobesluit art. 4.2(5) and (8)Last checked on 31 October 2026
What the law says
REACH puts the duty on the supplier. Under article 31(9) the supplier updates the SDS without delay as soon as new information on the hazards or the control measures becomes available, and as soon as an authorisation or a restriction applies to a substance. The new version goes free of charge to everyone who received the product in the previous twelve months. Since 1 January 2023 every SDS must also follow the new format of Regulation (EU) 2020/878. For the employer, EU Directive 98/24/EC requires the risk assessment to take the supplier's information into account; in the Netherlands the Arbobesluit adds that the assessment is reviewed when changed circumstances call for it (article 4.2(5) and (8)).
What this means in practice
So the question is not how old the SDS is, but whether it is still correct. A three-year-old SDS can still be right; last year's SDS can be outdated if the product's classification has changed. Check the revision date and the format of every SDS, and ask for a new version when the SDS still has the old format or is older than the period your company keeps. Many companies choose a fixed period of a few years, so the check becomes a routine instead of a matter of luck. If the supplier confirms the SDS is still current, record that.
How Chemspark does it
Chemspark checks every uploaded SDS on eleven points, including the revision date, the format that has been mandatory since 2023 and the expiry period you set yourself. Expired and expiring SDSs are grouped per supplier, with a request letter to the supplier ready to send. You can also have an SDS checked without an account on the SDS check.
Frequently asked questions
- Does an SDS expire automatically after five years?
- No, the law has no expiry date for an SDS. A fixed period is your own arrangement that helps you check regularly. If the supplier says the SDS is still correct and it already has the new format, you can simply keep using it.
- Do I have to ask for a new SDS myself?
- The supplier must send a new version on their own initiative to everyone who bought the product in the year before the revision. If you buy a product less often, ask for the SDS yourself. A short e-mail with the product name and article number is enough.
- Does the SDS have to be in my language?
- A supplier placing a product on the market in an EU country must provide the SDS in an official language of that country (REACH art. 31(5)). An English SDS can be useful for colleagues who speak other languages, but it does not replace the national version.
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