Regulation explainer
A chemicals compliance checklist for buyers before you place an order
buyers sourcing chemicals and hazardous materials. Drafted with AI assistance from the regulation dataset and approved by a person before publication; see the editorial policy.
Guide
Use this checklist before you confirm a purchase order for any chemical product or hazardous material, especially if it is going to a new supplier, a new market, or a new use case.
1. **Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on file** — Confirm the supplier can provide a current SDS for the exact product and formulation you are buying, not a generic version.
2. **REACH status checked** — If the goods are entering or moving within the EU, confirm registration or authorisation status under REACH Regulation EC/1907/2006.
3. **TSCA inventory check** — For US-bound goods, confirm the substance is listed on the TSCA inventory or otherwise cleared under EPA TSCA.
4. **Proposition 65 review** — If the product will be sold in California, check whether it contains any substance on the Proposition 65 list and whether a warning is required.
5. **K-REACH registration confirmed** — For shipments into South Korea, verify the chemical substance is registered or exempt under K-REACH.
6. **OSHA hazard classification** — Confirm the product's hazard classification and labelling meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910 requirements if it will be handled in a US workplace.
7. **WHS documentation for Australia/NZ** — Check that safety data and labelling meet Australia/NZ Work Health & Safety (WHS) product safety requirements if the goods are headed there.
8. **Dangerous goods classification for transport** — Confirm the correct UN number, packing group, and class under the UN/IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations if the shipment moves by air.
9. **US DOT hazmat paperwork** — For road or rail transport within the US, confirm compliance with US DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR), including shipping papers and placarding.
10. **Environmental management alignment** — If your buying policy requires suppliers to hold an environmental management certification, check for ISO 14001:2015 status.
Work through this list before goods ship, not after they arrive at your dock. Missing paperwork on any one of these items can hold a shipment at customs or trigger a workplace safety issue once the product is in use.
If you source chemicals and hazardous materials regularly, Complyra keeps track of which of these apply to each product and supplier — you can see how it works on the [Chemicals and hazardous materials](/industries/chemicals) page.
Complyra checks product and supplier information against regulatory requirements to support procurement decisions. It does not issue certifications or guarantee legal compliance; final responsibility for compliance remains with the buyer and supplier.