ISi information system for safety data sheets

Open database (in German)

The information system for safety data sheets (ISi) has been created jointly by the Association of the German Chemical Industry (VCI) and the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA). Its purpose is to provide public authorities, emergency services and the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions with access to the most comprehensive and up-to-date repository possible of safety data sheets for chemical products. The participating companies supply the material safety data sheets voluntarily to ISi. Since the establishment of the ISi database in the German Chemicals Act (ChemG) as part of the notification requirement for hazardous mixtures, the number of participating companies has risen to around 2,000. The number of current and archived material safety data sheets is rising continually and is currently over 5.5 million.

Statutory basis

Article 45 of the CLP Regulation forms the statutory basis for the notification requirement for hazardous chemical mixtures. In Germany, this notification requirement is fulfilled when:

• Information has been provided to the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment (BfR) in accordance with Section 16e of the ChemG, or
• Under the transitional provision, an up-to-date material safety data sheet is supplied to the ISi database at the IFA in accordance with Section 28 (12) of the ChemG. The transitional provision does not apply to the majority of consumer products, washing and cleaning agents and biocide products.

Should you manufacture and/or place a hazardous mixture on the market in Germany, you too can participate in ISi and thus at the same time fulfil your notification requirement in line with the transitional provision. For further information please refer to our instructions concerning the supply of safety data sheets and updates.

Deadlines for expiration of the transitional provision

The European Commission strives to harmonize the transmission procedure with regard to the notification requirement within the EU (Regulation (EU) 2017/542 (PDF, 359 KB)).

Currently it is envisaged that the transitional provision, i.e. the option for fulfilling the notification requirement by supplying material safety data sheets to the ISi database at the IFA, will be phased out.

The deadlines are as follows:

• January 2021: All mixtures for consumer use must be reported to the BfR (Regulation (EU) 2020/11) .
• January 2021: All mixtures for commercial use must be reported to the BfR.
• January 2024: All mixtures for industrial use must be reported to the BfR.

A grandfather clause applicable until 1 January 2025 is currently in place only for product notifications already received at the BfR prior to the deadline (REACH plus, 10/2017).

Access permissions

The database is not available to the general public, owing to contractual constraints. Access is granted to:

• The German Social Accident Insurance Institutions
• State bodies with surveillance functions (such as the labour inspection authorities)
• Emergency services (such as poisoning emergency hotlines or the TUIS transport accident information and emergency response system)

Some companies have consented to their safety data sheets being made accessible to the public. These are displayed under the "GAST" (guest) access.

Conditions of use

The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and the IFA draw attention to the following:

• The safety data sheets stored in the database are produced by the companies themselves and placed in the database by the DGUV/IFA without changes to their content.
• Users make use of the safety data sheets at their own risk. In particular, no guarantee is given that the safety data sheets are up to date, complete, correct or free of errors.
• The safety data sheets may be used only for fulfilment of the users' tasks in accordance with the statutes or legislation.
• Rights to use are granted only to the extent necessary for fulfilment of the users' tasks in accordance with the statutes or legislation; all rights are otherwise retained by the authors of the safety data sheets.
• Commercial use is subject to the express approval of the company or companies providing the safety data sheets.
• The user code is to be kept confidential.

Liability

The VCI, the companies supplying the safety data sheets and the DGUV/IFA accept no liability for the safety data sheets being up to date, correct, complete or free of errors, nor do they accept any liability for direct or indirect damage or loss resulting from use of the safety data sheets. This provision does not affect companies' responsibility for their safety data sheets and for the content thereof in accordance with the companies' statutory obligations.