India mandates MSDS for hazardous material imports from May 2025

IBT Editorial | May 28, 2025

From May 2025, India will enforce a new safety mandate requiring importers of hazardous materials—such as chemicals, paints, and solvents—to submit a valid Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) at the time of customs clearance. This move aims to enhance transparency, reduce environmental risks, and bring India’s trade practices in line with international safety standards.

hazardous material - pexels

Image credit: Pexels

Beginning May 2025, the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India will require all importers of hazardous goods including chemicals, coatings, paints, solvents, and related industrial materials to submit a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) at the time of customs clearance. This directive seeks to enhance regulatory compliance, protect public and environmental health, and align India’s documentation framework with global standards under the IATA, IMDG Code, and Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a comprehensive document that outlines:

  • The chemical composition of a material
  • Physical and health hazard information
  • Safe handling and storage guidelines
  • Emergency response procedures
  • International and national classification data

Effective May 2025, failure to submit a valid MSDS may result in customs holds, regulatory penalties, or rejection of consignments, particularly for goods falling under hazardous classifications.

Regulatory Context and Rationale

India’s hazardous imports have grown significantly over the past decade. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):

Parameter Value
Registered Hazardous Waste Generators 41,523
Annual Hazardous Waste Generated 7.9 million tonnes
Waste Recyclable 50.38%
Landfillable Waste 42.02%
Waste Requiring Incineration 7.60%

Source: MoEFCC Hazardous Waste Management Division

Top Exporting Countries of Hazardous Materials to India

Exporting Country No. of Shipments (2023–24)
United States 157,362
Vietnam 13,608
Mexico 10,861
Belgium 10,075
Netherlands 9,252
China 8,505
Germany 7,254

Source: Volza Trade Analytics

Operational Implications for Indian Importers

Key Compliance Risks:

  • Incomplete or outdated MSDS submissions
  • Incompatibility with updated GHS/IATA standards
  • Misalignment with corresponding HSN or HS codes
  • Delays in port clearance and demurrage costs
  • Potential regulatory fines ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 per violation

Trade Compliance Meets Digital Innovation

To mitigate risks and support timely compliance, AI-powered trade platforms have emerged as enablers of documentation integrity and regulatory oversight.

Startups and SaaS providers working in this space offer tools that can:

  • Automatically extract and validate MSDS fields
  • Flag outdated or missing safety data
  • Match HS codes with chemical risk profiles
  • Issue real-time alerts for non-compliance or documentation gaps

AI platforms such can offer dedicated capabilities for:

  • Parsing chemical SDS and MSDS forms
  • Flagging missing declarations required under Indian Customs Act or EU REACH
  • Validating country-specific documentation and codes before customs clearance
  • Reducing human error through automated classification logic

In 2017, over 469 containers of hazardous waste remained unclaimed across 85 port terminals and CFSs in India due to incorrect or absent safety documentation. The estimated containment and clearance cost exceeded ₹80 crore, exposing significant regulatory gaps and operational vulnerabilities.

Recommendations for Importers

To ensure compliance with the May 2025 MSDS regulation, importers should:

  1. Request updated MSDS documentation from all foreign suppliers
  2. Integrate AI-based platforms into internal compliance workflows (e.g., ERP, SAP)
  3. Train logistics, procurement, and compliance teams on MSDS standards
  4. Implement real-time validation tools for customs-facing documentation
  5. Engage with CHA partners to align on regulatory expectations

The mandatory MSDS requirement for hazardous imports reflects India’s commitment to global trade norms and environmental safety. Importers must act proactively to adapt systems, digitalize documentation processes, and minimize risk exposure. With the help of intelligent platforms such as TradeVeda and Patram.AI, businesses can ensure smoother port clearance, reduce regulatory friction, and enhance their trade credibility in high-risk sectors like chemicals, coatings, and solvents.

Article authored by: LiquidMind.AI

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