HELP
CENTER
幫助中心
Search your question
What Is MSDS?
Quick Answer
An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the safety passport for shipping sensitive goods by air internationally. Courier security teams use it to confirm that liquids, powders, or chemical-based products pose no flammability, explosion, or toxicity risk in an aviation environment. It is commonly required for cosmetics, liquids, powders, essential oils, and battery-powered products. The document must be in English and can be obtained from your supplier or the brand's official website at no cost.
When creating a Fuuffy order to ship certain products — such as serums, facial cleansers, scented candles, herbal powders, or battery-powered electronics — you may receive a system prompt or a notification from your courier (DHL, FedEx, etc.) requiring an MSDS before the parcel can be loaded onto an aircraft. Many sellers are puzzled by this technical-sounding abbreviation: "I'm only shipping ordinary skincare products — why do I need a chemical safety report?"
In practice, an MSDS is the most common safety clearance document for sensitive goods in international air freight. This guide explains clearly what an MSDS is, why it is required, and how online store owners can obtain one with minimal effort.
MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet. Under the current international standard, it is also commonly referred to as an SDS (Safety Data Sheet).
In simple terms, it is a product's "chemical composition safety report". This technical document records the product's physical properties (such as flash point and boiling point), chemical ingredients, health hazard information, fire response measures, safe storage conditions, and transport restrictions. Aviation authorities and courier security teams use the MSDS to determine whether a liquid or powder is flammable, explosive, or toxic under the low-pressure and vibration conditions encountered in air freight.
Any product that is not a plain solid (such as clothing or plastic goods) — including liquids, gels, powders, gases, or items with chemical compositions — will typically require an MSDS:
| Category | Common E-Commerce Products Requiring MSDS | Key Inspection Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetics & Skincare | Serum, foundation, mascara, nail polish, sheet mask, facial cleanser, essential oil | Confirm no excess alcohol or flammable solvents |
| Lifestyle & Home | Scented candles, aroma diffuser oils, cleaning agents, adhesives, correction fluid, ink, epoxy resin | Confirm no toxic gas released when heated |
| Food & Health Supplements | Chinese herbal powder, collagen powder, plant extract powder, concentrated liquid sauces | Rule out controlled substance or corrosive characteristics |
| Lithium Battery Products | High-capacity built-in battery devices, battery pack accessories (usually also requires UN38.3 test report) | Confirm compliance with IATA air transport DG standards |
Under the UN GHS framework, a standard MSDS/SDS must contain 16 core sections. Courier clearance teams focus on the following during review:
The product name on the MSDS must match exactly the English product description declared on the Fuuffy platform.
A full list of all chemical ingredients and their proportions, used to rule out prohibited or hazardous substances.
Security teams focus on the Flash Point. If the flash point is below 60°C, the product is immediately classified as a flammable dangerous good and refused carriage.
This section directly states whether the product is classified as a "Dangerous Good" or "Not Restricted / Non-Hazardous" for air transport under IATA-DGR regulations. A "Not Restricted" classification means the parcel may be loaded onto a passenger or cargo aircraft without issue.
Many new e-commerce sellers assume an MSDS must be commissioned at their own expense from a testing laboratory. In practice, the following three channels allow you to obtain one quickly and at no cost:
Under international trade regulations, any factory producing cosmetics, liquids, or chemical products has a legal obligation to maintain an official English-language MSDS for each product. Whether you source through Taobao, Alibaba, or directly from a Hong Kong or overseas brand, simply request from the supplier: "Please provide the English-language MSDS document for this product (PDF format)." In most cases, they can send it immediately.
For well-known international consumer brands (major cosmetics brands, 3M adhesives, DJI drone batteries, etc.), the brand's official website typically provides MSDS/SDS downloads under its "Technical Support" or legal compliance pages. Searching "brand name + product model + MSDS PDF" will usually locate the relevant document directly.
If you operate an independent brand producing handmade soaps, artisan essential oils, or craft candles where no factory MSDS is available, submit a product sample to a professional third-party testing body such as SGS, Intertek, or the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC). These organisations will analyse the formulation and issue an internationally recognised MSDS with full legal validity.
Wrong Language (Must Be Entirely in English)
International courier clearance and dangerous goods review teams at DHL, FedEx, and UPS all operate in English. If your supplier provides only a Chinese-language MSDS, the parcel will be rejected at airport security. Always specify to your supplier that you require the English Version of the MSDS document.
Document Out of Date (Recommended: Issued Within 3–5 Years)
Chemical safety regulations are updated regularly — ICAO revises its Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) annually. If your product's MSDS was issued more than five years ago, couriers may refuse it on the grounds of outdated compliance. A document dated within 3 to 5 years is generally considered current and compliant. Requesting an updated version from your supplier periodically is advisable.
When creating a sensitive-goods order or completing a customs invoice on the Fuuffy platform, the system provides an "Upload Additional Clearance Documents" option — simply upload the MSDS as a PDF file. If the document was not uploaded when the order was created, contact Fuuffy's live customer service team at any point after collection; the technical team will arrange to transmit the document directly to the courier's review department.
Planning to ship your brand's sheet masks or skincare serums to overseas markets in bulk? Unsure whether your current MSDS meets the latest regulatory standards? Contact Fuuffy's International Customs Technical Team — we will review your documents at no charge to ensure your parcel clears customs first time. Before shipping, 👉 use the Fuuffy Smart Shipping Calculator to estimate freight costs and delivery times.
