General
Understand the transition from FISPQ to FDS (Safety Data Sheet), the requirements of the new ABNT NBR 14725, and how to prepare and manage this document online.
By:
Vitória Willemann
The handling of chemical products in the industry has always required strict information control to prevent accidents, poisoning, and environmental disasters. For years, the standard document for this in Brazil was the FISPQ (Material Safety Data Sheet).
With the publication of the new ABNT NBR 14725, Brazil permanently aligned its guidelines with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). Following this update, the old FISPQ was renamed FDS (Safety Data Sheet). The 24-month transition period already ended in 2025, which means that the new format is now the official current requirement.
In this article, we explain the practical differences between FDS and FISPQ, what changes in the safety routine, and how to structure the management of these documents so that they are accessible at any time at the work front.
What is the FDS and why did the FISPQ change?
The FDS is a mandatory document that accompanies any chemical product classified as hazardous. It provides detailed instructions on the product's risks, safe ways of handling, storage, transportation, and emergency measures in the event of accidents or leaks.
The transition from FISPQ to FDS occurred to adapt Brazil to the 7th revision of the UN's GHS (Globally Harmonized System). The goal was to create a single global language. Thus, a chemical product manufactured in Brazil, Europe, or Asia will have a safety data sheet with the same structure and the same hazard classification criteria, facilitating reading and preventing interpretation errors.
Key differences between the FDS and the old FISPQ
Although the essence of the document remains the same — to protect workers and the environment —, the update brought important changes beyond the nomenclature. See what changed in practice:
Criterion | Old FISPQ (Before NBR 14725:2023) | New FDS (Current) |
Nomenclature | Ficha de Informações de Segurança de Produtos Químicos | Ficha com Dados de Segurança |
GHS Reference | Based on previous versions of the UN GHS. | Aligned with the 7th revised edition of the GHS. |
Hazard Classification | Less comprehensive criteria for new classes. | Inclusion of new hazard classes and new cut-off limits. |
Emergency Phone | There was no strict requirement for continuous availability. | Requirement for an emergency number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Section 1). |
How to prepare an FDS and meet the new standard
Both preparing a FISPQ in the past and preparing an FDS today require in-depth technical knowledge in chemistry, toxicology, and environmental legislation. The document cannot be filled out as a generic form; it must accurately reflect the composition and risks of the specific substance or mixture.
The mandatory structure of the FDS maintains the division into 16 internationally standardized sections. The main ones are:
Identification: Product name, manufacturer details, and 24h emergency telephone.
Hazard identification: GHS pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements.
Composition and information on ingredients: Chemical identity and concentration.
First-aid measures: What to do (and what not to do) in case of inhalation, contact with skin, eyes, or ingestion.
Fire-fighting measures: Suitable and unsuitable extinguishing agents.
Exposure controls and personal protection (PPE): Details of mandatory PPE (type of glove, respirator filter, etc.).
The importance of having the FDS online and accessible in the operation
It is of no use to prepare an FDS with technical excellence if the document remains locked in a drawer in the Occupational Safety department or lost in a corporate network folder.
The legislation requires that workers have immediate and easy access to this information at the exact location where they handle the chemical product. Given the difficulty of keeping physical folders updated on the factory floor (which tear, get dirty, or become outdated), migrating to an online FDS has become the safest and most efficient practice in modern industry.
By digitizing this process, operators can consult risks and required PPE through a tablet or smartphone, ensuring that the information consumed is the latest version approved by engineering.
Smart management with digital checklists
The availability of the FDS must be connected to the inspection routine. When the EHS team performs field audits, it is essential to verify if the stored chemical products correspond to the active safety sheets in the system and if employees are using the PPE described in section 8 of the document.
To eliminate paper, avoid fines in inspections, and ensure that chemical safety processes are strictly followed, technology is your main ally.
Discover our Checklist and Inspection Management platform and see how GAP Sistemas helps industries digitize forms, control critical documentation, and monitor operational compliance in real time.
