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X12 848 — Material Safety Data Sheet

The 848 transmits a product safety data sheet (MSDS / SDS) — chemical characteristics, identified hazards, handling precautions. Aligned with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.

Purpose

The 848 lets a chemical manufacturer or supplier send the buyer a structured safety data sheet: product identification, composition, GHS classification, health hazards, environmental hazards, first-aid measures, fire-fighting, handling, exposure controls, physico-chemical properties, stability, toxicology, disposal, transport, regulatory.

The 848 is framed by OSHA (Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200) and GHS formulation requirements. Most manufacturers pair an 848 with a PDF SDS hosted in parallel for narrative content.

Envelope structure

The 848 travels in a functional group MS (Material Safety). Didactic example in release 004010 for an acid:

x12 example-848.x12 
ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*ACMECHEMICAL  *ZZ*ACMEBUYER     *260514*0900*U*00401*000000848*0*P*>~
GS*MS*ACMECHEMICAL*ACMEBUYER*20260514*0900*1*X*004010~
ST*848*0001~
BMS*00*MSDS-2026-0091*20260514*N~
N1*MF*ACME CHEMICALS INC*92*MFR-9087~
N1*BY*ACME BUYER LLC*92*BUYER-001~
LIN*1*BP*P-12345~
PID*F****HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTION 31%~
LH1*KK*1*49*1789*HYDROCHLORIC ACID*8***II~
LH2*101*N***W***N**~
LFH*EC*Causes severe skin burns and eye damage~
SE*9*0001~
GE*1*1~
IEA*1*000000848~

The BMS (Beginning Segment for Material Safety) opens the transaction. The N1 segments identify the manufacturer (MF) and buyer (BY). The LIN loop identifies the product. LH1 carries the hazmat classification (UN, class, packing group), LH2 the properties (flash point…), LFH the free-text hazards / precautions (GHS H-statements).

Common segments

  • Header — ST, BMS (Beginning Segment for Material Safety), DTM.
  • Parties — N1 loop (MF = Manufacturer, BY = Buyer, SU = Supplier).
  • Product — LIN loop with PID (description), REF (catalog no., CAS).
  • Hazmat — LH1/LH2/LH3/LFH loop (UN, class, packing group, flash point, H-statements, first aid).
  • Attachment / SDS link — PWK to point at the hosted PDF SDS.
  • Summary — SE.

Common pitfalls

  • GHS H-statements: LFH must echo GHS H-statements exactly (H314, H318…); paraphrased free text is non-compliant.
  • Updates: a formulation or GHS-classification change requires a new 848 with effective date, and a supplier callback if the buyer still has legacy stock.
  • SDS vs MSDS: since 2012, OSHA requires the GHS SDS format (16 sections); the 848 is compatible but must reflect the new format.

Documentation

The code 848 and the name Material Safety Data Sheet are public and listed on x12.org/products/transaction-sets. OSHA publishes the GHS SDS requirements on osha.gov/hazcom.