The responsibility of Malaysia’s chemical regulation falls under the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR). Malaysia’s DOSH has published the Malaysian Standard on Globally Harmonized System (GHS) For Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (MS 1804:2008) based on the second edition UN GHS, and sets out guidelines for Safety Data Sheet (SDS) authoring. Compliance for MS 1804:2008 is still voluntary.

Malaysia adopted GHS in 2013 with the issuance of the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health, an agency under the Department of Labor, issued an Industry Code of Practice on Chemicals Classification and Hazard Communication 2014 (ICOP), which provides guidance on classification, labelling and the preparation of SDSs. Chemical substances and mixtures must comply with GHS, based on the 3rd revised edition, as of 17 April. Labels and SDSs must be provided in both English and Malaysian. Additionally, importers and manufacturers, who supply a hazardous chemical at a quantity of one metric ton per calendar year, must report its holding of such chemical and proof of its GHS compliance by March of the following year. (Source:3eCompany)

GHS implemented in Malaysia for substances and mixtures 17 April 2015.

Other legislation relating to chemical safety and regulation are:

• Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994

Other Lead Agency’s responsible for chemical management and regulation:

• Pesticides Board (PB)
  • Pesticides
• Ministry of Transport (MOT)
  • Transport of dangerous goods

Malaysia has implemented GHS reguations, they have published voluntary guidelines MS 1804:2008 based on the second edition UN GHS. For more information on the current status of Malaysian GHS implementation please refer to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

Combining Malaysian SDSs with other jurisdictions is not recommended.