Provide an MSDS/SDS when the courier requests product safety or restricted-goods information. The document should identify the exact finished product and include supported transport information. Ask whether the carrier also requires a Non-DG declaration, dangerous-goods declaration, test report or carrier form.
Why does a courier ask for an MSDS certificate?
Couriers use an SDS as one input in their restricted-goods review. It tells them what the product is, who supplies it, whether it has classified hazards, how it should be handled and what transport information is available.
The request does not automatically mean your product is dangerous goods. It means the carrier needs enough reliable information to decide which acceptance, packaging and documentation process applies.
“MSDS certificate” is common business language. The current standardised document is the Safety Data Sheet, or SDS. It normally follows a 16-section structure and should be prepared for the product supplied, not copied from one raw material.
What information does a courier check in the SDS?
| SDS area | What the reviewer checks |
|---|---|
| Section 1 | Exact product name, supplier details, recommended use and emergency contact information. |
| Section 2 | Hazard classification, pictograms, signal word and precautionary statements. |
| Section 3 | Relevant ingredient information supporting the classification. |
| Section 7 | Handling and storage conditions that may affect transport preparation. |
| Section 9 | Physical form, pH, flash point, boiling information and other relevant properties. |
| Section 10 | Stability, reactivity and incompatible materials. |
| Section 14 | UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group and other transport information where applicable. |
Read the separate Section 14 guide before treating one line in the SDS as a complete shipping decision.
Which documents may be needed besides the MSDS?
The required file depends on the product, package, mode and route. FedEx India explains that dangerous-goods shipments can require classification, suitable packaging, marks, labels, an airway bill, a shipper’s declaration and customs documents. The SDS supports the review but does not replace those shipment controls.
| Situation | Possible additional requirement |
|---|---|
| Courier asks whether the product is Non-DG | Separate declaration, classification support or carrier questionnaire. |
| Regulated dangerous goods | Dangerous-goods declaration, compliant packaging, marks and labels. |
| Lithium cell or battery | UN 38.3 test summary and configuration-specific battery documents. |
| Aerosol or pressurised product | Package and propellant information; transport classification for the finished article. |
| International commercial shipment | Invoice, packing list, airway bill and customs documents. |
| Unclear physical data | Product-specific test report, such as flash-point evidence where relevant. |
Use MSDS vs Non-DG Certificate when the carrier’s request uses both terms.
Which products commonly receive extra courier scrutiny?
- Perfume and fragrance: alcohol content, flash point, package size and mode can affect the review.
- Aerosols: the propellant and pressurised package matter, even when the liquid formula appears familiar.
- Batteries and devices: battery chemistry, configuration, energy rating and test evidence must match the shipped item.
- Paint, ink and adhesive: solvent composition and flash point often drive classification questions.
- Cleaners and descalers: pH, corrosivity and concentration can change the outcome.
- Natural and cosmetic products: “natural” or “cosmetic” does not establish a transport status.
For products not classified as hazardous, review whether a non-hazardous product still needs an SDS.
What is the correct process for submitting an MSDS to a courier?
- Get the request in writing: save the carrier email, portal message or document checklist.
- Define the shipment: confirm the exact product, formulation, package, quantity, route and mode.
- Check the SDS: ensure the product name, supplier, revision and physical data are current.
- Review Section 14: confirm that the transport information is supported and consistent with the package.
- Identify additional outputs: ask whether the reviewer needs Non-DG, battery, test or declaration documents.
- Submit one consistent file: names, model numbers, quantities and supplier details should match across documents.
- Wait for acceptance: do not dispatch until the courier confirms the required shipping process.
Send the courier’s exact message with the product, package and route. We’ll identify the document scope before drafting.
Check My Courier Requirement →Why does a courier reject an MSDS?
- The product or model name differs from the invoice or package.
- The SDS describes an ingredient instead of the finished product.
- Section 14 is blank, generic or inconsistent with other sections.
- The document lacks relevant physical data or reliable classification support.
- The revision is old and supplier details have changed.
- The package contains an aerosol, battery or other feature not covered in the SDS.
- The courier requested a separate declaration or test document that was not supplied.
If the reviewer has already returned the file, start with Why Was My MSDS Rejected? and correct the stated issue rather than changing only the date.
Which official references support this guide?
- FedEx India: how to ship dangerous goods
- IATA: Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods
- OSHA Appendix D: SDS information requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for every product or shipment. A courier may request an SDS to screen the product, confirm restrictions or decide whether more transport documents are needed.
Not always. Dangerous goods may also require compliant packaging, marks, labels, declarations and training. Batteries, aerosols and other products can require separate evidence.
A courier may request clarification or decline a shipment when the document does not match the product, package, route or its acceptance policy.
No. The carrier may request a separate declaration, test data or its own form and retains the final acceptance decision.