Translate a safety data sheet
The safety data sheet is the most standardised document a chemical company produces. Sixteen sections, a mandatory order, regulated vocabulary — and a translation obligation that allows no exception.
How much it costs
For a document of this type, approximately 5,000 words (14 pages), into one language:
Understand the document, internal use.
Ready to send, by the scientific and medical specialist.
Cross-reviewed. For what commits you.
By comparison, a translation agency charges between 600 € and 1 000 € for the same document, within five to ten working days. VAT not applicable — article 293 B of the French General Tax Code (CGI) Original layout included. Exact quote displayed before payment, after file upload.
An obligation that comes from the REACH regulation
Article 31 of the REACH regulation requires that the safety data sheet be supplied in an official language of each Member State where the substance or mixture is placed on the market, unless that State provides otherwise. There is no commercial tolerance: delivering an SDS in English only in France exposes you to a penalty and engages the supplier's liability.
H and P statements are not translated, they are looked up
Hazard statements (H200 to H420) and precautionary statements (P101 to P501) have an official wording in each language, laid down by the CLP Regulation. They must not be translated: the corresponding official wording must be used. A free translation of an H314 is a regulatory error, even if the meaning is correct.
This is exactly the kind of subtlety the scientific specialist handles, and that a general-purpose engine misses.
The 16-section structure
The order and title of the sixteen sections are mandatory. An SDS whose section 8 were merged with 9, or whose titles were paraphrased, would not be compliant. The file returned by Manuce preserves the structure of the original document.
Frequently asked questions
Are H and P statements handled correctly?
They must be reproduced in their official wording in the target language, not freely translated. Check them systematically on receipt: this is the first point on which an SDS is inspected.
In which languages must I provide the SDS?
In an official language of each Member State where you place the product on the market. Some States require a specific language: check their national regulations.
The specialist handling it
This type of document is entrusted to the scientific and medical specialist. See how it works.
Further reading
Going further
Instructions, CE marking and languages: what the regulations actually require
Loi Toubon, European directives, declaration of conformity, working documents: language is not a commercial choice but a legal obligation. An overview of what must be translated, and for which market.
This document, into a specific language
Test it on your document, free of charge
An extract from your file translated by the chosen specialist, before any payment. You assess, then you decide.