Article 2

1. For the purposes of this Directive: (a) "substances" means chemical elements and their compounds as they occur in the natural state or as produced by industry; "preparations" means mixtures or solutions composed of two or more substances. 2. The following substances and preparations are "dangerous" within the meaning of this Directive: (a) explosive: substances and preparations which may explode under the effect of flame or which are more sensitive to shocks or friction than dinitrobenzene; oxidising: substances and preparations which give rise to highly exothermic reaction when in contact with other substances, particularly flammable substances; easily flammable: - substances and preparations which may become hot and finally catch fire in contact with air at ambient temperature without any application of energy, or solid substances and preparations which may readily catch fire after brief contact with a source of ignition and which continue to burn or to be consumed after removal of the source of ignition, or liquid substances and preparations having a flash point below 21º C, or gaseous substances and preparations which are flammable in air at normal pressure, or substances and preparations which, in contact with water or damp air, evolve highly flammable gases in dangerous quantities; flammable: liquid substances and preparations having a flash point between 21º C and 55º C; toxic: substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or taken internally or if they penetrate the skin, may involve serious, acute or chronic health risks and even death; harmful: substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or taken internally or if they penetrate the skin, may involve limited health risks; corrosive: substances and preparations which may, on contact with living tissues, destroy them; irritant: non-corrosive substances and preparations which, through immediate, prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or mucous membrane, can cause inflammation.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-29 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.