Effective 1 April 2025, we are launching a significant update to the ZDHC Gateway Chemical Module, designed to streamline chemical product upload and verification processes. It will reimagine workflows for all stakeholders.

Recognising the need for increased efficiency and improved user experience, we’ve developed APIs to enable seamless communication between the Gateway and ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifiers’ databases. This automation eliminates manual verification, leading to:

• Faster verification and publication of ZDHC MRSL conformant chemical products.
• Improved data accuracy.

Please refer to the step-by-step guide below or check out our FAQs for a more detailed understanding of the new process. 

01/ Complete Process Overview

This guide outlines the complete process for uploading and verifying a new chemical product within the ZDHC Gateway Chemical Module for formulators.

1. Product Profile Creation (Draft Status):

   • The formulator initiates the process by creating a new product profile within the ZDHC Gateway. Please refer to 02/ Create a Single Product (Draft) for step-by-step guidance.
   • A unique Product ID (PID) is automatically assigned to the product.
   • The product profile is initially saved in "Draft" status, allowing for subsequent edits and additions.

2. Offline Information Sharing with ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier:

   • The formulator engages with a ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier for the certification process.
   • Crucially, the formulator shares their ZDHC Account ID (AID) and the Product Name with the certifier offline.
   • Sharing the ZDHC PID is also highly recommended to ensure accurate product identification. For the steps on looking up ZDHC AID and PID, please refer to 03/ Find ZDHC PID & AID.

3. Certification Details Input by ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier:

   • The ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier inputs the relevant ZDHC MRSL related certification details directly into the identified product profile(s).
   • This input can be performed either via API integration for seamless data transfer or, temporarily, through the ZDHC Gateway Bulk Upload functionality for certifiers.

4. Addition of Supplementary Information (SDS):

   • The formulator adds any necessary supplementary information to the product profile, such as the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Please refer to 05/ Add Safety Data Sheet to Product Draft for the steps.
   • If the SDS was previously uploaded, this step can be skipped.

5. Certification Acceptance and Product Publication:

   • The formulator reviews the certification details provided by the ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier. 04/ Manage Certification Details outlines how formulators can review, accept and decline certifications.
   • Upon verification and acceptance, the formulator publishes the product profile. Please refer to 06/ Publish Products for guidance.
   • The published product will then show the ZDHC MRSL related certification details provided by the ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier.

02/ Create a Single Product (Draft)

To create a single chemical product profile and generate a Product ID on the ZDHC Gateway, please follow the steps below.

1. Upon logging into the ZDHC Gateway, click Products on the left navigation bar and select the Products tab.
2. Click on the Add Product button on the right-hand side.
   
3. Fill out all mandatory fields (marked with an asterisk *) and any non-mandatory fields as needed. It is sufficient to add a Product Name, Substrate, Category and Type to create a product draft. Please note: to later publish a product, you also have to add a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). You can do so at this stage or later (please see 05/ Add Safety Data Sheet to Product Draft).

4. Once you've completed the necessary product details, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Save on the right-hand side. Click OK on the pop-up message. Once saved, you will see a green message at the top of the screen, saying that the product was successfully created.
   Please note: it's also possible to create multiple products at the same time. For step-by-step guidance, please refer to the article Uploading multiple chemical products at once (Formulator).

03/ Find ZDHC PID & AID

To find your product's Product ID (ZDHC PID):

1. Click Products on the left navigation bar and select the Products tab.
2. Type the product's name in the Search bar. You can also use Basic and Advanced Filters to help you search, e.g. selecting Draft under Basic Filter to search amongst your draft products. Click Search to see updated results upon selecting filters.
3. You will find the Product ID under the ZDHC PID column, next to the relevant product's name. Share the PID along with the Product Name with your ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier when (re)certifying the product.

To find your organisation's Account ID (ZDHC AID):

1. Click Profile on the left navigation bar. The Vitals tab is automatically selected.
2. Scroll down to the Organisation Overview section. You will find your organisation's Account ID under ZDHC AID. Please share the ZDHC AID with your ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier, along with product names and PIDs during the offline (re)certification process.

04/ Manage Certification Details

As your ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier pushes new certification details and updates or renews existing ones, ZDHC Gateway will notify you of any updates via the bell notifications. There are two types of Certification Status notifications:

1. ZDHC MRSL Certification Posted For Acceptance:  You will receive this notification after completely new certification details are posted which now require your acceptance. By clicking on this bell notification, you will be taken to the Products page, Certificate Review tab, sorted by Show New. On this page, you can manage new certification details, more on that below.
2. ZDHC MRSL Certification Processing Complete: You will receive this notification after an update is posted to existing certification details or whenever anyone from your organisation accepts or declines newly added certification details. By clicking on this bell notification, you will be taken to the Products page, Products tab. You can utilise Basic and Advanced Filters to find products with updated certification details. Please note: if there is an update to existing certification details, no action is required from you and this notification is for your reference only.

To accept newly added certification details, follow these steps:

1. Open the Products page and select the Certificate Review tab.
2. Select the certification details in question and click Actions, then Accept.
3. In the pop-up message, you may choose between Yes, Accept & Publish and Yes, Accept. Please note: you will only be able to publish the product from this page if it has a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

To decline newly added certification details, follow these steps:

1. From the Products page and Certificate Review tab, select the certification details in question and click Actions, then Decline.
2. In the pop-up window, select Yes, Decline. If you later need to find declined certification details, simply click on Show New and switch to Show Declined view on the same page. You will still be able to accept those details if needed.

To find which products' certification details have been automatically updated and have not yet been viewed by you, use the following filters:

1. On the Products page under the Products tab, click Basic Filters and select Auto under Verification. Click Search if the page didn't automatically update.
2. Next, click Advanced Filters and tick Show Unread Only. Click Search if the page didn't automatically update.

You will find that the products with newly updated certification details that have not yet been viewed by you are highlighted in blue. To view the update, click on the Product Name and scroll down to Certification.

If you don't want to click every product with newly updated certification details:

1. On the Products page, under the Products tab select Show Unread Only in Advanced Filters.
2. Select the product updates you wish to mark as "read". You may select all.
3. Click the Mark As Read button on the right-hand side.

05/ Add Safety Data Sheet to Product Draft

To add an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) to a product draft, please follow these steps:

1. Upon logging into the ZDHC Gateway, click Products on the left navigation bar and select the Products tab.
2. Use the Search bar to type the product's name or PID. Alternatively, use Basic and Advanced Filters to help you locate the product, e.g. select Draft under Product Status within Basic Filters.
3. Upon finding the product, click on its name or the Edit Product button.
4. On the following page, click Add New next to the Safety Data Sheet on the right-hand side.
5. Select between Upload and Link. In case of file upload, click Browse File to add a PDF. In case of a link, simply enter the link in the Link field.
6. Click Save and OK in the pop-up. SDS is successfully added!

06/ Publish Products

Please refer to Publishing chemical products (Formulator) for the step-by-step guidance on publishing products from the Products tab.

As described in 04/ Manage Certification Details, it's also possible to publish products when accepting newly added certification details. If that's the case, please follow these steps:

1. Open the Products page and select the Certificate Review tab.
2. Select the certification details in question and click Actions, then Accept.
3. In the pop-up message, select Yes, Accept & Publish. Please note: you will only be able to publish the product from this page if it has a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).