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SQAS & ESAD - What you need to know about the European Single Assessment Document

Published on:
12/12/2023
Updated on:
8/4/2024
5 min read
Written by: 
Christian Alsen

Founder of relatico

The essentials of the SQAS/ESAD system designed to evaluate the quality, safety, and environmental standards of chemical traders, ensuring compliance and promoting risk management in the chemical industry.

The SQAS - Safety and Quality Assessment System was developed by the European Chemical Industry Council CEFIC and the European Chemical Trade Association FECC. The system serves as an assessment method for logistics service providers and transport companies in the hazardous goods sector. It is available for different areas of transport/logistics, rail transport, tank cleaning, storage and the chemical trade (ESAD) and is applied with the help of standardized questionnaires.

Today's article is dedicated to the SQAS/ESAD. The European Single Assessment Document is aimed at the chemical industry and serves as a monitoring tool for a standardized performance assessment of distributors.


What is the ESAD?

ESAD is not a certification, but a document that certifies the current status. It is aimed at the chemical trade and is an evaluation system with which the quality, safety and environmental standards of chemical distributors can be assessed. It creates a standardized assessment method and is a voluntary review of a company's own systems and processes. Based on the ESAD questionnaire, it helps suppliers to check the performance of distributors and compare it with their own standards.


The sections of the ESAD questionnaire

The questionnaire is divided into four sections:

   Standard activities of the distributor (Di)
   Assessment of the site (S)
   Chlorinated solvents (Cs)
   Food, cosmetics and/or pharmaceuticals (F)

Contents of the ESAD questionnaire

The approximately 800 questions are divided into four individual questionnaires based on the four sections. There is a commentary guide that explains how to use the individual questions.


Structure of the Di section

   Legal provisions
   Risk management
   Policy statements and documentation
   Provision of information
   Training
   Emergency preparedness and assistance/emergency response
   Continuous improvements
   Communication with the public

Example question:

4.3.2 Do you have a labeling procedure or fact sheets for transporting NON hazardous goods if this is part of a voluntary program?    

Note from the questionnaire guide: In some countries, trade associations or competent authorities offer voluntary programs for the handling of non-hazardous goods that may be harmful to the environment. This takes the form of labeling bulk tankers and/or requiring drivers to carry information leaflets. If there are no voluntary programs, the question must be answered with N/A.
Structure of the S section

   The site in general
   Handling and storage of bulk products
   Filling into IBCs, drums and small containers and mixing procedures
   Handling and storage of packaged products

Example question:

3.18 Are hoses used exclusively for one product, disconnected immediately after use and stored in dedicated containers?  

HInwise from the questionnaire guide: The allocation of hoses to specific products is required. Assignment to a product group would still be acceptable (in connection with the risk of a reaction and product quality).


Structure of the Cs part

   Introduction
   Product stewardship - maintenance and care of product quality
   General characteristics of the distribution chain/supply chain
   Legal requirements and important guidelines
   Storage
   Repackaging (decanting)/handling
   Transportation and loading/unloading of loose (unpackaged) products (goods)
   Transportation and (out)delivery of packaged goods
   Waste management

Example question:

2.1.11. Is there a procedure in place to ensure that customers are advised/instructed on the specific requirements for the handling and use of chlorinated solvents?  

Note from the questionnaire guide: Distributors are responsible for informing their customers about the proper use of chlorinated solvents as defined in laws and directives and in the technical literature on product safety, health and the environment and by the manufacturer. In doing so, distributors must inform users about state-of-the-art technologies that can be used for the safe handling of chlorinated solvents by the end user.

handling of chlorinated solvents at the end user (i.e. closed safety delivery systems, appropriate fixed piped solvent distribution systems, transfer over safe ground with minimal emissions). Procedural instructions must be available for this purpose.


Structure of the F-part

   General
   Storage in tanks/silos (bulk)
   Loading and unloading of unpackaged products
   Transportation of unpackaged products
   Packaging/filling  
   Storage and shipping of packaged/filled products
   Product stewardship  

Subsection GTDP: Good Tradensport and Distribution Practices for pharmaceutical excipients

Quality Management
   Organization and employees
   Premises
   Warehousing
   Equipment (general)
   Documentation
   Repackaging and relabeling
   Complaints
   Recalls
   Returns
   Dealing with products that do not conform to specifications
   Shipping and transportation
   (Re)awarding of contracts

Example question:

6.1.2 Are filled, stored packages/containers subject to a shelf life

subject to a shelf life control system?  

Note about the questionnaire guidelines

Warehouse management must proceed according to the "first in - first out" principle and an equivalent procedure must be used to control the product shelf life.

The ESAD is very supplier-oriented and is intended as a risk management tool to promote the introduction of and compliance with quality standards. Companies receive certification through an inspection by an independent inspection body. Based on the ESAD questionnaire, this body checks the condition of the retailer and produces a report.

An overview of all accredited inspection bodies, sorted by country, can be found on the SQAS website.

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Christian Alsen
Christian Alsen
Founder of relatico

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Christian Alsen was an IT consultant in the mid 2000's in manufacturing when he discovered that all companies do the same things with their suppliers but don’t do it as a team effort. Also, management didn't think about Supplier Relationships as a whole. Christian saw highly skilled people doing routine stuff and suffering. That's when he decided to do something about it. He started to build the ecratum SRM collaboration platforms. Now, 15 years and 100.000 companies later plus having gained a lot of experience, he is happy to work with his team on relatico.next the Simple Supply Chain Collaboration Platform