CLASS 2013 refers to Malaysia's Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013. It requires all hazardous chemicals to be properly classified, labeled, and accompanied by Safety Data Sheets. The regulations came into force on April 1, 2015, and are enforced by DOSH (Department of Occupational Safety and Health).

Who needs a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in Malaysia?

All manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of hazardous chemicals in Malaysia must prepare and provide SDS compliant with CLASS 2013. Employers must also ensure SDS are available to workers who handle hazardous chemicals. This includes chemicals used in manufacturing, laboratories, construction, and any workplace setting.

How long does SDS preparation take?

Typical turnaround is 3-7 business days for standard products. Simple products with complete data may take 3-5 days, while complex formulations or products requiring extensive research may take 7-14 days. Rush service may be available for urgent requests.

Do you handle confidential formulations?

Absolutely. We maintain strict confidentiality protocols and can work with proprietary formulations under NDA. We can use concentration ranges and generic chemical identities where permitted by regulations to protect your trade secrets while maintaining compliance.

What is GHS and how does it relate to CLASS 2013?

GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, developed by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard communication worldwide. Malaysia's CLASS 2013 is based on GHS principles and adopts GHS classification criteria, pictograms, and SDS format. This alignment helps Malaysian companies comply with international standards.

What are the penalties for non-compliance with CLASS 2013?

Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to RM 50,000, imprisonment up to 2 years, or both for serious violations. DOSH can also issue workplace shutdown orders for imminent dangers. Repeat offenders face higher penalties. Proper compliance is essential to avoid legal liability and protect worker safety.

Do I need SDS in both English and Malay?

CLASS 2013 allows SDS in either English or Malay. However, providing bilingual SDS is strongly recommended to ensure all workers can understand the safety information, especially in workplaces with Malay-speaking workers. Bilingual SDS improve safety communication, demonstrate commitment to worker safety, and reduce liability from miscommunication.

How often should SDS be updated?

SDS should be updated whenever: new hazard information becomes available, formulation changes occur, regulatory requirements change, or new uses are identified. As best practice, review and update SDS every 3-5 years even without changes. CLASS 2013 requires SDS to be current and accurate at all times.

What information do you need to prepare an SDS?

We typically need: product name and intended use, complete formulation (ingredients and concentrations), physical and chemical properties (if available), existing test data (toxicity, ecotoxicity, etc.), intended market and applications, and any existing SDS or classification for review services. We can work with incomplete data and help identify what additional testing may be needed.

What are hazard pictograms and how many are there?

Hazard pictograms are standardized GHS symbols that visually communicate the type of hazard. There are 9 pictograms covering different hazard types: flame (flammable), flame over circle (oxidizer), exploding bomb (explosive), gas cylinder (compressed gas), corrosion (corrosive), skull and crossbones (acute toxicity), exclamation mark (health hazard/irritant), health hazard (serious health effects), and environment (aquatic toxicity).

What is the difference between "Danger" and "Warning" signal words?

"Danger" is used for more severe hazards (Categories 1 and 2), while "Warning" is used for less severe hazards (Categories 3 and above). The signal word is determined by the most severe hazard classification of the chemical. Only one signal word appears on a label, even if multiple hazards are present.

How do I prepare for a DOSH inspection?

Prepare by: ensuring all SDS are current and accessible to workers, verifying all chemical labels are compliant with CLASS 2013, maintaining complete classification records, keeping chemical inventory up to date, training workers on chemical hazards and SDS location, organizing documentation for easy access, and conducting a pre-inspection gap assessment. We offer compliance gap assessment services to help you prepare.

What records must I keep for chemical compliance?

You must maintain: classification records for all hazardous chemicals, SDS for at least 30 years, records of worker training on chemical hazards, chemical inventory, incident reports related to chemical exposure, and any correspondence with DOSH. All records must be available for DOSH inspection upon request.

How are chemical mixtures classified?

Mixtures are classified using three methods in order of preference: (1) test data on the mixture itself, (2) bridging principles if similar tested mixtures exist, or (3) cut-off values and calculation methods based on ingredient hazards and concentrations. The classification considers physical, health, and environmental hazards according to GHS criteria.

Do I need to register my chemicals with DOSH?

CLASS 2013 does not require general chemical registration with DOSH. However, you must maintain proper classification records, SDS, and labels. Some specific chemicals (like pesticides) may have additional registration requirements under other regulations. The focus is on proper hazard communication rather than registration.

What if I am importing chemicals with foreign SDS?

Foreign SDS must be reviewed and adapted to meet Malaysian CLASS 2013 requirements. This includes ensuring proper classification according to Malaysian standards, adding local supplier information (name, address, phone), verifying compliance with all 16 required sections, and translating to Malay if needed. We offer SDS review and adaptation services for imported chemicals.

What industries do you serve?

We serve a wide range of industries including: chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, industrial chemicals, agrochemicals, paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, cleaning products, automotive, electronics, oil and gas, and laboratories. Any business handling hazardous chemicals in Malaysia can benefit from our services.

Do you offer training on CLASS 2013 and chemical safety?

Yes, we offer comprehensive training on CLASS 2013 requirements, GHS classification and labeling, SDS preparation and interpretation, chemical safety in the workplace, and DOSH inspection preparation. Training can be customized for your specific industry and workforce needs. Contact us to discuss your training requirements.

What is included in a compliance gap assessment?

Our compliance gap assessment includes: review of existing SDS documents for completeness and accuracy, verification of chemical classifications, label compliance assessment, documentation and record-keeping review, workplace chemical inventory assessment, gap identification and prioritization, remediation recommendations, and implementation roadmap development. We provide a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations.

Can you help with international chemical compliance?

Yes, we can help with GHS-based compliance for other countries and regions. While CLASS 2013 is Malaysia-specific, GHS is internationally recognized. We can prepare SDS according to GHS format and provide guidance on country-specific requirements for markets like Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, EU, USA, and others. Contact us to discuss your international compliance needs.

The Complete Guide to CLASS 2013 (Malaysia)

If you make, import, sell, or use hazardous chemicals in Malaysia, CLASS 2013 is the rulebook you cannot ignore. In plain terms: it decides how every dangerous chemical in the country must be classified, labelled, and documented. Get it right and you protect your workers, your customers, and your business. Get it wrong and a DOSH officer can fine you, close your site, or worse.

This guide walks through what CLASS 2013 actually requires - in language a business owner can follow, with the technical detail your EHS team will need.

01 - OVERVIEW

What is CLASS 2013?

CLASS 2013 stands for the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013. It is Malaysia’s national implementation of the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

Key facts:

Enforced by: the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH, or JKKP in Malay).
In force since: 1 April 2015, with a transition period that ended on 31 March 2017.
Applies to: all hazardous chemicals used in Malaysian workplaces.
Based on: GHS classification criteria, pictograms, and the 16-section Safety Data Sheet format.

In short, if a chemical is hazardous, CLASS 2013 tells you exactly how to describe that hazard, warn about it, and prove you did.

02 - WHO MUST COMPLY

Who must comply?

Compliance is not just the manufacturer’s problem. Several roles carry legal duties:

Role	Main obligation under CLASS 2013
Manufacturers	Classify chemicals, prepare SDS, apply compliant labels.
Importers	Ensure foreign SDS/labels are adapted to Malaysian requirements.
Suppliers / distributors	Pass correct SDS and labels down the chain.
Employers	Keep SDS accessible to workers, train staff, manage inventory.

If your company sits in any of these boxes, CLASS 2013 applies to you.

03 - THE THREE PILLARS

The three pillars: classify, label, document

Every obligation under CLASS 2013 falls into one of three pillars:

Classification - work out how hazardous the chemical is.
Labelling - put that hazard information on the container.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) - hand over the full technical dossier.

Missing any one of the three leaves you non-compliant. Our classification records service covers the first; label preparation the second; and SDS authoring the third.

04 - HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

Hazard classification

GHS sorts hazards into three groups:

Hazard group	Examples	Number of classes
Physical	Flammable liquids, oxidisers, corrosive to metals	16
Health	Acute toxicity, skin corrosion, carcinogenicity	10
Environmental	Acute & chronic aquatic toxicity	2

For mixtures, classification uses - in priority order - test data on the mixture itself, bridging principles, then cut-off values and calculation methods based on ingredient hazards and concentrations.

Tip: keep a written record of how you classified each chemical. DOSH can ask for the justification at any time.

05 - LABELLING

Labelling

A compliant CLASS 2013 label must show:

Element	What it contains
Product identifier	Chemical & trade name
Supplier details	Name, address, phone
Pictograms	Up to 9 GHS hazard symbols
Signal word	“Danger” (severe) or “Warning” (less severe)
Hazard statements (H-codes)	Nature of the hazard
Precautionary statements (P-codes)	How to stay safe
Supplementary info	As needed

Need help building or verifying a label? See our label preparation & verification service.

06 - SAFETY DATA SHEETS

Safety Data Sheets

An SDS is the full 16-section technical document. It must follow the GHS format and be provided in English and/or Malay. See our SDS authoring & review service for a compliant, audit-ready document.

The 16 sections are:

Identification
Hazard identification
Composition / ingredients
First-aid measures
Fire-fighting measures
Accidental release measures
Handling and storage
Exposure controls / personal protection
Physical and chemical properties
Stability and reactivity
Toxicological information
Ecological information
Disposal considerations
Transport information
Regulatory information
Other information

Many Malaysian workplaces have Malay-speaking staff, so a bilingual SDS is strongly recommended.

07 - RECORDS & RETENTION

Records & retention

Compliance does not stop at the document. You must keep:

Classification records for every hazardous chemical.
SDS for at least 30 years.
Training and inventory records, available for DOSH inspection on request.

08 - PENALTIES

Penalties for non-compliance

Outcome	Maximum penalty
Fine	RM 50,000
Imprisonment	2 years
Both	For serious violations
Site order	Workplace shutdown for imminent danger

Repeat offenders face higher penalties. Proper compliance is simply cheaper than the alternative.

09 - CHECKLIST

Step-by-step compliance checklist

List every hazardous chemical you make, import, or use.
Classify each one (physical, health, environmental).
Prepare or review the SDS (16 sections, EN/BM).
Build and verify the label (pictograms, signal word, H/P codes).
Keep classification records and SDS for 30 years.
Make SDS accessible to workers and train them.
Run a compliance gap assessment before any DOSH visit.

10 - COMMON MISTAKES

Common mistakes

Copying a foreign SDS without adapting it to Malaysian rules.
Using the wrong signal word for the most severe hazard.
Missing pictograms or precautionary statements.
Treating SDS as “done once” instead of reviewing every 3–5 years.
Keeping SDS in a drawer no worker can reach.

11 - FAQ

Frequently asked

Do I need to register chemicals with DOSH? No general registration is required - but you must keep classification records, SDS, and labels.

Can I use concentration ranges for confidential formulas? Yes, within GHS rules, often under NDA.

How often should the SDS be updated? Whenever new hazard data, formulations, or regulations change - and as best practice every 3–5 years.

12 - GET AUDIT-READY

Get audit-ready

CLASS 2013 looks intimidating, but it is a repeatable process. If you want a second set of expert eyes before a DOSH inspection, our compliance gap assessment turns a pile of documents into a prioritised fix list. For strategy across borders, see regulatory consulting.

Not sure where you stand? Contact us for a free assessment and we will tell you exactly what compliance requires.