South Africa’s manufacturing sector contributes around 12.5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It covers a wide range of industries, including petroleum and chemical products, pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubber.
For businesses operating in these sectors, exporting a product involves more than arranging collection and handing a parcel to a carrier. Some products must first be assessed for potential transport hazards. The carrier needs to know what the product is, how it is classified and whether any special handling, packaging or documentation requirements apply.
That is where a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) comes in.
If you have been asked to provide an MSDS, this guide explains what the document is used for, how it differs from a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and what it means when you are shipping chemicals, batteries or other potentially hazardous goods from South Africa.
Your Shipment Is Ready. But Does the Carrier Know What It Is Carrying?
A Material Safety Data Sheet is a technical document that provides information about a substance or product. It may include details about the product’s composition, physical and chemical properties, potential hazards, safe handling procedures, storage requirements, emergency response measures and transport considerations.
For shipping purposes, this information helps determine whether a product must be handled as Dangerous Goods (DG) or can move as regular cargo.
That distinction matters because some products may not appear particularly hazardous but can still be regulated during transport. Examples include perfumes, aerosols, lithium batteries, dry ice and certain chemicals. Depending on the mode of transport and the destination, these products may be subject to requirements set by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), international regulations and other relevant transport authorities.
The MSDS or SDS gives the logistics provider the information needed to assess the product before it enters the transport network. It helps answer important questions: What is being shipped? How should it be classified? Does it require special packaging or labels? Are there quantity limits or additional documents?
MSDS or SDS: Why Are There Two Names for the Same Document?
If you have searched for the meaning of MSDS, you may have noticed that current regulatory and shipping sources often refer to an SDS, or Safety Data Sheet.
MSDS is the older term. SDS is the terminology now more commonly used under modern hazard communication standards, which aim to present chemical safety information in a more consistent format.
In everyday business and shipping conversations, the two terms are often used interchangeably. So, when a carrier asks for an MSDS, it may be asking for the product’s current SDS.
The name of the document is less important than its accuracy. Businesses should provide a current document that relates specifically to the product being shipped and includes the hazard and transport information required for the shipment. An outdated document, or one issued for a similar but different product, may not be suitable.
What Information Does an SDS Provide?
An SDS gives carriers, shippers, handlers and emergency responders a technical profile of the product.
Depending on the product and the applicable requirements, it may include information about:
The product’s composition and ingredients
Potential health, physical and environmental hazards
Safe handling and storage
Recommended personal protective equipment
Fire-fighting and accidental-release measures
First-aid procedures
Transport classification and requirements
Disposal considerations
This information helps a carrier assess how the goods should be handled and whether additional Dangerous Goods requirements apply.
For that reason, the SDS should match the actual product being shipped. Businesses should avoid relying on a generic document or assuming that a product is non-hazardous because it is commonly sold or used. The correct classification depends on the product’s properties and the transport regulations that apply.
Which Products May Require an SDS?
An SDS is particularly relevant when a product contains hazardous materials or may fall within Dangerous Goods regulations.
Examples can include:
Industrial chemicals and other chemical substances
Batteries and equipment containing batteries
Flammable liquids
Aerosols
Dry ice
Paints, adhesives and solvents
Products that are corrosive, toxic, oxidising or otherwise regulated for transport
The presence of a chemical or battery does not automatically determine how a shipment will be regulated. A product’s classification depends on factors such as its composition, concentration, physical properties, packaging and the relevant transport rules.
The safest approach is to check the manufacturer’s current SDS before booking the shipment. This helps you avoid relying on assumptions and gives the carrier the information needed to assess the goods properly.
An SDS Is Only the Starting Point
Having the correct SDS does not automatically mean that a shipment is ready for collection.
If the goods are classified as Dangerous Goods, additional requirements may apply to packaging, marking, labelling and shipment documentation. Depending on the product and route, these may include a Dangerous Goods Declaration, Air Waybill, import or export permits and carrier approval.
The shipper remains responsible for correctly declaring, packaging and labelling Dangerous Goods.
DHL Express accepts certain Dangerous Goods under specific conditions. Some shipments require prior approval, while others are prohibited from transport. Acceptance may depend on the product, quantity, packaging, origin, destination and service selected.
For South African exporters, DHL recommends confirming key details before booking, including:
The UN number
The Proper Shipping Name
The hazard class or division
The packing group, where applicable
Quantity limits
Packaging requirements
Marking and labelling requirements
Required declarations, permits and other documents
Checking these details before collection can help prevent delays. If additional approval or documentation is discovered on collection day, the shipment may not be able to enter the network as planned.
The Right Documentation Helps Keep Dangerous Goods Moving
For businesses shipping potentially hazardous products, an SDS provides essential information about what the product is and how it should be handled during transport.
It is only one part of the process, though. Dangerous Goods shipments may also require accurate classification, compliant packaging, correct labels, supporting documents and approval from the carrier. Each requirement needs to be addressed before the goods are handed over for transport.
DHL Express has specialist expertise in Dangerous Goods shipping and accepts eligible hazardous shipments under specific conditions. Businesses can also use DHL’s shipping and tracking tools to arrange shipments and maintain visibility throughout the delivery journey.
If your business regularly exports products that may fall under Dangerous Goods regulations, open a DHL Express Business Account. You can access shipping solutions and tools designed to support international trade and the specific requirements of your industry.
FAQs
Some items may be suspected Dangerous Goods, such as spare parts. You can avoid delays or a stopped shipment by adding the words "Not Restricted" to your documentation when that applies. Only use the wording when the product's SDS confirms it, because whoever is named as the shipper on the DHL Express waybill is legally responsible for full compliance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Our Dangerous Goods onboarding guide explains how DHL Express defines and handles regulated goods.
No. Only authorised shippers that have been vetted and approved by DHL's Restricted Commodities Team can send Dangerous Goods through the network. In South Africa, DHL handles certain classes of Dangerous Goods by air and road to approved destinations, and it only accepts hazardous shipments that were booked and approved before pick-up. Read our tips for shipping hazardous materials from South Africa for the full pre-shipment checklist.
Prohibited items are never carried. Restricted items are not accepted unless DHL agrees otherwise, which involves a business case conducted by DHL, with approved items recorded in writing with the customer. Dangerous goods fall into the restricted category, and that includes everyday products such as perfumes, aftershaves, aerosols, dry ice and biological substances. See the full list in our guide to restricted items.
Yes. Dangerous Goods paperwork sits alongside the standard export documents, it does not replace them. A commercial invoice is required for non-document shipments to countries and territories outside your origin country or customs union. Every DHL Express shipment also needs a fully completed air waybill or label securely attached to each piece. Our guide to shipment elements covers each document.
No. The UN number identifies a hazardous substance for transport and appears on the SDS and the Dangerous Goods Declaration. The HS code classifies the goods for customs and determines duties, and it appears on the commercial invoice. A shipment needs both to be correct. For the customs side, DHL Express's MyGTS portal uses AI to suggest the correct HS classification for your shipment. Our guide to customs clearance and restrictions explains how it works.
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