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X12 transaction guide · Master data

EDI 848 Material Safety Data Sheet

The X12 document suppliers use to send the hazard, handling and safety information of a Material Safety Data Sheet electronically.

Sent by
Chemical manufacturer or supplier
Received by
Customer, distributor or user of the material
Standard
ANSI ASC X12

What is an EDI 848?

The EDI 848 Material Safety Data Sheet is the ANSI X12 transaction set for communicating the chemical characteristics, hazards and precautions for the safe handling and use of a material. It was designed to carry the information required for a Material Safety Data Sheet under the US OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, Canada's WHMIS and state and local right-to-know rules.

The 848 lets a customer receive safety data as structured information that can be loaded into an environmental, health and safety system. Many regulations now use the term Safety Data Sheet (SDS) with a standard 16-section format, so implementations should confirm which regulatory content each partner expects.

How the EDI 848 worksDiagram of the EDI 848 Material Safety Data Sheet. Chemical manufacturer or supplier sends it to customer, distributor or user of the material. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by 997. Inside the ISA, GS and ST envelopes, X12 release 008010 requires, in the heading: BMS (Beginning Segment For Material Safety Data Sheet). 2 optional loops are listed by their first segment.How the EDI 848 worksMaterial Safety Data Sheet: who sends it, where it fits and what the standard marks required1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeEDI 848SENDERChemicalmanufacturer orsupplierRECEIVERCustomer, distributoror user of the material997 or 999 acknowledgment back, if the partners agreeUSUALLY FOLLOWED BY997FunctionalAcknowledgment2 WHAT X12 RELEASE 008010 REQUIRESInterchange: sender and receiver IDsISA … IEAFunctional group, ID code MSGS … GETransaction set 848ST … SEHEADINGBMSBeginning Segment For Material Safety Data Sheet+ 1 optional loop, starting with:N1DETAIL+ 1 optional loop, starting with:LINBlue box: required loop. Optional loops are listed by the segment that starts them; when a loop is used, that first segment is required. Optional segmentsoutside loops are not drawn.Structure: required segments and loops in the X12 008010 listing for the 848. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds its own requirements.
How the EDI 848 worksDiagram of the EDI 848 Material Safety Data Sheet. Chemical manufacturer or supplier sends it to customer, distributor or user of the material. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by 997. Inside the ISA, GS and ST envelopes, X12 release 008010 requires, in the heading: BMS (Beginning Segment For Material Safety Data Sheet). 2 optional loops are listed by their first segment.How the EDI 848 worksMaterial Safety Data Sheet: who sends it,where it fits and what the standard marksrequired1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeEDI 848SENDERChemicalmanufacturer orsupplierRECEIVERCustomer,distributor oruser of thematerial997 or 999 acknowledgment back, if the partnersagreeUSUALLY FOLLOWED BY997Functional Acknowledgment2 WHAT X12 RELEASE 008010 REQUIRESInterchange: sender and receiver IDs (ISA… IEA)Functional group, ID code MS (GS … GE)Transaction set 848 (ST … SE)HEADINGBMSBeginning Segment ForMaterial Safety Data Sheet+ 1 optional loop, starting with:N1DETAIL+ 1 optional loop, starting with:LINBlue box: required loop. Optional loops are listedby the segment that starts them; when a loop isused, that first segment is required. Optionalsegments outside loops are not drawn.Structure: required segments and loops in the X12008010 listing for the 848. Your trading partner'simplementation guide adds its own requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends the 848, to whom, and which documents usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what X12 release 008010 itself requires: the envelopes around the 848 and the segments and loops the standard marks as required, area by area. Optional loops are listed by the segment that starts them rather than drawn in full. This is the standard's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: each partner's implementation guide usually makes some optional loops mandatory, restricts the codes and may use a different release.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Sending safety data with the first shipment of a chemical product
  • Distributing revised safety data after a formulation or regulatory change
  • Supplying hazard data to distributors who resell the product

Where it fits in the document flow

This document 848 Material Safety Data Sheet
Usually followed by 997 Functional Acknowledgment

Structure

Mandatory segments in the 848 (X12 release 008010)

The segments X12 release 008010 marks as mandatory at their level, in order. Segments inside optional loops are needed only when the loop is used. This is the standard's requirement, not your trading partner's: each partner's implementation guide names the release it uses, adds the optional segments it requires and restricts the values. The requirement status comes from one published X12 reference listing and has not been checked against a second source.

  • ST
  • BMS
  • N1
  • LIN
  • MSS
  • SD1
  • CID
  • MEA
  • LX
  • SE

Practical example

The 848 in practice

A coatings manufacturer reformulates an industrial primer and must give every customer the revised safety data. Its regulatory system sends an 848 to each customer that bought the product, identifying the product, the revision date, hazard classifications, composition, handling and storage precautions and emergency measures. The customers' safety systems load the revision and make it available on the shop floor.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for the 848

  • Confirm the regulatory format partners need, such as the current GHS-aligned Safety Data Sheet content.
  • Version each sheet and send revisions to every customer who bought the product.
  • Keep a readable copy available, because many users still need the formatted document.
  • Align product identifiers with the ones used on orders and labels.

How ECOM helps

Automate the 848 with ECOM

Industry

Manufacturing

Customer schedules, supplier connectivity and shipping integrated with the ERP for manufacturers.

Industry

Wholesale Distribution

Customer orders, supplier purchasing, catalogs and drop-ship for distributors.

Solution

B2B Integration

Connect every customer, supplier, carrier and bank across EDI, API, file and portal channels.

More general questions about EDI are answered in the EDI FAQ.

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