Safety Data Sheet languages

The language of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should be an official language of the country where the product is supplied, subject to the requirements of the local Competent Authority.

It is legal to have more than one language on the SDS, but in practice this is rarely done, as it is usually much simpler to issue an SDS in each language required.

List of official EU languages: ECHA official list languages_required_for_labels_and_sds_en .  (This list may be updated if  countries join or leave the EU).

Unlike labels, where it is often possible to produce a label in another language by using the translations of H and P statements etc given in different language versions of the CLP regulation, SDSs are very complex and usually require professional translation.  Factsheet on translation companies: Translation companies for Labels and SDSs v1. 17-03-2017 .  Some software companies offer automatic translation as part of their product, but this usually only covers the H and P statements, and other standard text, so you may still need to get these SDSs checked by a human translator.

Translation notes:

1. If you have an extended SDS containing an Annex with Exposure Scenarios, this is considered to be part of the SDS and must therefore be supplied in the same language as the SDS, that is in the official language of the country of supply.
2. Where the SDS uses the abbreviated classification information e.g. Flam Liq 3, or Skin Irrit 2 (as found in Table 3, Annex VI, the Harmonised Classifications, but which can be used for any product), this is not to be translated, but to be retained as a code in all EU languages (which matches the protocol in different language versions of Table 3, Annex VI).
3. The transport information needs to be translated as well, e.g. the Proper Shipping Name may need to be translated into the user’s language.   This information can be found e.g. from commercial databases such as LOLI https://www.chemadvisor.com/portfolio/loli-database/, or in foreign language versions of ADR.
4. You may need to have several versions of an SDS in the same language for different countries, e.g. a French SDS for both France and Belgium, because of local differences like different national Workplace Exposure Limits in Section 8.