SDS vs TDS, declaration of performance, declaration of conformity: which document does what?
As of · sourced from primary law · not legal advice · Auf Deutsch lesen
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This English version was prepared with AI from the German page. No native speaker or lawyer has read it. Found a mistake? Write to office@proofpass.eu.
The short answer
SDS vs TDS in short: the safety data sheet (Art. 31 REACH) describes hazards and protective measures and is mandatory for hazardous substances and mixtures. The technical data sheet describes properties and application and is voluntary. The declaration of performance and the EU declaration of conformity are mandatory where their legislation applies. An EPD describes environmental impact.
Art. 31 REACH; Regulation (EU) 2024/3110
The documents compared
- Safety data sheet (SDS): mandatory under Article 31 REACH for hazardous substances and mixtures, 16 sections, for professional recipients
- Technical data sheet (TDS): voluntary; properties, application, consumption, storage
- Declaration of performance (under Regulation (EU) 2024/3110, family by family, the declaration of performance and conformity): mandatory for construction products covered by a harmonised specification, the basis of the CE marking
- EU declaration of conformity: mandatory for products under CE legislation such as machinery, electrical equipment or toys
- Environmental product declaration (EPD): voluntary, under EN 15804 for construction products, increasingly asked for in tenders
- Instructions and safety information: for consumer products under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), in the language the Member State determines
Who needs what
A construction sealant typically needs a safety data sheet, a technical data sheet and a declaration of performance, often an EPD as well. A cleaning product for consumers that is classified as hazardous needs a safety data sheet for professional recipients and safety information for consumers. Keep all documents of a product under one address.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have a technical data sheet?
Not by law. Applicators, planners and distributors expect one, though, and tenders often make it a condition.
Does the declaration of performance replace the safety data sheet?
No. The two have different legal bases and purposes. A hazardous construction product needs both.
With ProofPass
ProofPass holds several document types per product, each in several languages and with its own version history.
The terms and legal notices are in German, and the German version is binding.
Sources
As of 11 November 2026. The legal text in force prevails. This page is not legal advice; sources are given above.