Chemical Labeling and SDS Requirements in Australia

Australia’s chemical requirements fall under the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations, which are implemented by the Commonwealth, states and territories. Australia has implemented the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for workplace hazardous chemicals; suppliers should also check product-specific regimes such as therapeutic goods, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, poisons scheduling, consumer goods and transport of dangerous goods. Last reviewed: June 22, 2026.

SDS Requirements

Suppliers should prepare SDSs according to the national rules governing hazard classification, document format, safety information, and emergency response content. The Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (WHS), which regulates hazardous chemicals in the workplace, has been updated to align with Revision 7 of GHS. The regulation came into force January 1, 2021 and all new SDSs/GHS labels will need to comply with Revision 7 by December 31, 2022 . Australia has a new GHS based system. Australian SDSs can be combined with New Zealand regulations so that one document will be compliant in both jurisdictions.

Suppliers, manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals for workplace use must prepare and provide a Safety Data Sheet consistent with the WHS Regulations and Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice: Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals. SDSs should follow the 16-section GHS format, be written in English, include Australian emergency contact details where required, be reviewed at least every five years, and be updated when new hazard information becomes available.

Consumer Label Requirements

Consumer chemical labels may be regulated separately from workplace labels, particularly where poisons, consumer goods, therapeutic products, pesticides, or transport rules apply. Hazardous workplace chemicals sold to consumers may also need WHS/GHS hazard communication when supplied for workplace use, but retail consumer products can fall under the Australian Consumer Law, the Poisons Standard and state/territory poisons controls, Therapeutic Goods Administration requirements, APVMA requirements for agricultural and veterinary chemicals, or other product-specific rules. Consumer labels should therefore be checked against the applicable product category rather than relying only on workplace GHS rules.

Workplace Label Requirements

Workplace labels should communicate required hazard information for occupational users and remain consistent with local workplace safety requirements. In Australia the Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations require that manufacturers, importers and suppliers of chemicals used in the workplace correctly label their products. Currently WHS has been updated to align with Revision 7 of GHS.

Workplace containers of hazardous chemicals must be labelled in accordance with the WHS Regulations and Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice: Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals. Labels should identify the product and supplier and include applicable GHS hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements. Decanted or transferred chemicals generally require workplace labels unless an exemption applies, and label information must remain consistent with the SDS.

Official Regulatory Resources

• Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals 3rd Revised Edition
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals (2022)
• Safe Work Australia
• Safe Work Australia Code of Practice
• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority
• Department of health and Ageing
• The Poisons Standard
• Department of Infrastructure and Transport
• Transport of Dangerous goods