An MSDS sheet, now called a Safety Data Sheet or SDS, is the master document that explains the hazards, handling rules and emergency actions for a chemical or mixture. In vaping that includes propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, nicotine solutions, flavour concentrates and finished e liquids. Knowing what appears on an SDS helps mixers, shops and couriers handle products safely and proves to regulators that you take compliance seriously.
MSDS or SDS
MSDS is the older name, SDS is the current term. The purpose is the same. The sheet travels with the product through the supply chain so everyone from the lab bench to the shop counter can store, use and transport it correctly.
Why an SDS matters in vaping
It keeps people safe, supports COSHH risk assessments, speeds up emergency response and shows due diligence during Trading Standards visits. It also keeps labels, websites and customer instructions aligned with the real properties of the product so you avoid contradictions that erode trust.
The 16 sections you will find on an SDS
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Identification
Product name, intended use, supplier details and an emergency phone number. For e liquids this should match your label name and brand details. -
Hazards identification
Signal word, hazard statements, pictograms and precaution phrases. This is where irritant or toxic warnings appear for nicotine solutions or certain flavour concentrates. -
Composition or information on ingredients
All ingredients with CAS numbers and typical ranges. For a finished e liquid you will usually see PG, VG, flavour concentrate families and nicotine where present. -
First aid measures
Clear actions after inhalation, skin or eye contact, or ingestion. Keep this section easy to find in the mixing room and at the till. -
Firefighting measures
Suitable extinguishing media, specific hazards and advice for firefighters. PG and VG have high flash points yet spilled liquid can make floors slippery, which is noted here. -
Accidental release measures
Spill response, protective equipment and clean up method. This informs your mop kits, absorbents and waste bins. -
Handling and storage
Ventilation needs, temperature limits, incompatible materials and hygiene advice. Nicotine storage limits and locked cabinets often come from this section. -
Exposure controls and personal protection
Workplace exposure limits if any, plus gloves, eyewear, respirators and ventilation guidance. This drives your PPE checklist for mixing and decanting. -
Physical and chemical properties
Appearance, odour, pH, viscosity, boiling point and density. Useful for process control and for choosing the right bottles and seals. -
Stability and reactivity
Conditions to avoid, incompatible substances and likely decomposition products. -
Toxicological information
Likely routes of exposure and symptoms. Nicotine entries explain rapid onset of nausea or dizziness after accidental exposure. -
Ecological information
Persistence, bioaccumulation and aquatic toxicity. This informs your waste policy to keep liquids out of drains. -
Disposal considerations
How to dispose of liquids and contaminated packaging safely. -
Transport information
UN number if classified, proper shipping name, class and packing group. Most finished e liquids are not regulated for transport, nicotine concentrates often are. -
Regulatory information
Key rules that apply to the product and any label obligations. -
Other information
Revision date, change history and a list of abbreviations. Always check the revision date so you do not follow out of date advice.
How to read an SDS fast
Start with sections 2, 4, 7 and 8 for hazards, first aid, storage and PPE. Add section 6 to set your spill procedure, then section 14 if you ship stock. Finish with section 16 to confirm the sheet is current.
Keeping SDS files tidy
Store a digital folder with version control and a printed binder on site. Put copies in the mixing area and at reception. Train staff to find the right sheet in under a minute. When a supplier updates a concentrate or you change a recipe, request the new SDS and retire the old one so teams do not follow the wrong instructions.
Align labels, web pages and SDS
Your bottle label, your website and your SDS should agree on composition, strength and hazards. If the label says 70 VG and the SDS says 60 VG you will fail a due diligence check. If you advertise a cooling effect, keep the SDS for the coolant in your file and train staff to avoid touching eyes after handling it.
What Trading Standards may ask for
Officers can request SDS sets for PG, VG, nicotine shots, concentrates and finished e liquids. They may ask where you keep them, how you train staff and how SDS data feeds your COSHH assessment. Clear folders and signed training records make the visit quick and calm.
Practical steps for shops and mixers
Create a one page receiving checklist that includes an SDS check. Add a tick box for SDS version on every batch sheet. Keep a small PPE station with gloves and eyewear plus a laminated first aid summary drawn from section 4. Add an SDS quick link on staff desktops so nobody has to hunt for files.
For adult vapers looking for value
If you are 18 or over and want larger bottles that deliver value while you store and handle them correctly, browse our full 100ml vape juice collection with flavours suited to everyday use.
Learn more about UK vaping rules
For the bigger picture on compliance, including TPD limits, age of sale rules, the 2026 vape duty and safety documentation, visit our Vape Regulations and Law hub which brings all our guidance together in one place.
Common mistakes to avoid
Copying an SDS from another brand, keeping only a paper copy in a locked office, forgetting to refresh the sheet when a formula changes and letting staff handle nicotine without the PPE listed in section 8. Avoid these and SDS becomes routine rather than stressful.
Final thoughts
What is on an MSDS sheet is not just technical trivia. Those 16 sections are the backbone of safe manufacturing, responsible retail and smooth inspections. Keep them current, train your team to use them and align your labels to the data. Do that well and compliance becomes a habit that protects people and keeps your business moving.
For a step back to the purpose and who needs one, visit our article on what is a msds data sheet. For a quick definition and to understand more about MSDS, see what is msds.