IMDS Release 15.0 Now Live with Carbon Footprint and Regulatory Enhancements

The International Material Data System (IMDS) Release 15.0 went live on July 7, 2025, delivering a significant update focused on regulatory compliance, sustainability—including Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)—and streamlined user management.

Key Highlights from IMDS Release 15.0

1. Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Integration

Users can now optionally assign PCF data to each Module or MDS, similar to how regulatory data is handled.

• Two PCF categories:

o Product Carbon Footprint: Linked to manufacturing site, added under ingredients.
o Transport Carbon Footprint: Customer-specific emissions from factory to destination.

• PCF units: kg CO₂e per component or per kg for materials.
• PCF is version-specific and not shared across MDS versions.
• Published standard MDSs cannot include PCF data.

2. Enhanced SVHC Substance Handling

Substances classified as SVHCs under specific conditions will now dynamically appear in the MDS tree, affecting searches, reports, and SCIP submissions.

3. New MCCP Regulation Type

A new category for Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCP) has been added to the Regulation Wizard, aligning with other regulations like REACH and BPR.

4. Improved “Rest” Range Handling

“Rest” elements now support range values (min–max) if sibling entries use ranges, offering greater flexibility. The fixed weighted mean option remains available.

5. Revised User Privilege Settings

User access is now based on individual privileges rather than predefined profiles.

• “Presets” group privileges by common roles for ease of use.
• Existing users retain their current rights.
• All users now have read-only access to the Regulation Wizard by default.

6. Mandatory Regulatory Data Validation

Submission of an MDS now requires complete regulatory data:

• Missing data triggers an error.
• Incomplete data results in a warning.
• Applies only after the first MDS version is released.

New and Updated Recommendations

• Recommendation 027: Guides users on entering PCF data, based on the Catena-X PCF Rulebook V3.
• Recommendation 001 and Annex 001a: Updated editorially.
• Regulation Wizard content has been moved to Recommendation 026 to highlight its growing importance.

IMDS Services Reorganized

A new IMDS Plus Portfolio restructures existing services:

• IMDS Connect replaces the old IMDS Advanced Interface.
• IMDS Plus is the new name for IMDS-a2.
• Other tools like CDX, MaCS, and training services are now grouped under this portfolio for improved clarity.

OEM and Regional Contact Updates

The newsletter includes revised contact details for major OEMs including BMW, Toyota, GM, Stellantis, Audi, Honda, and more, as well as updated regional support contacts across Asia, Europe, and North America.

IMDS Release 15.0 reflects the platform's continued evolution toward sustainability, transparency, and regulatory readiness. The integration of PCF and improved compliance tools aligns with global efforts to reduce emissions and meet rising data transparency standards.

Read the full newsletter: IMDS Newsletter #65