List of R-phrases

R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous substances and preparations. The list was consolidated and republished in Directive 2001/59/EC, where translations into other EU languages may be found.

These risk phrases are used internationally not just in Europe and there is an ongoing effort towards complete international harmonisation. (Note: missing R-number combinations indicate phrases that were deleted or replaced by another phrase.)


 * Explosive when dry
 * Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition
 * Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition
 * Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds
 * Heating may cause an explosion
 * Explosive with or without contact with air
 * May cause fire
 * Contact with combustible material may cause fire
 * Explosive when mixed with combustible material
 * Flammable
 * Highly flammable
 * Extremely flammable
 * Reacts violently with water
 * Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases
 * Explosive when mixed with oxidising substances
 * Spontaneously flammable in air
 * In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture
 * May form explosive peroxides
 * Harmful by inhalation
 * Harmful in contact with skin
 * Harmful if swallowed
 * Toxic by inhalation
 * Toxic in contact with skin
 * Toxic if swallowed
 * Very toxic by inhalation
 * Very toxic in contact with skin
 * Very toxic if swallowed
 * Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
 * Can become highly flammable in use
 * Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
 * Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas
 * Danger of cumulative effects
 * Causes burns
 * Causes severe burns
 * Irritating to eyes
 * Irritating to respiratory system
 * Irritating to skin
 * Danger of very serious irreversible effects
 * Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect
 * Risk of serious damage to eyes
 * May cause sensitisation by inhalation
 * May cause sensitisation by skin contact
 * Risk of explosion if heated under confinement
 * May cause cancer
 * May cause heritable genetic damage
 * Danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure
 * May cause cancer by inhalation
 * Very toxic to aquatic organisms
 * Toxic to aquatic organisms
 * Harmful to aquatic organisms
 * May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
 * Toxic to flora
 * Toxic to fauna
 * Toxic to soil organisms
 * Toxic to bees
 * May cause long-term adverse effects in the environment
 * Dangerous for the ozone layer
 * May impair fertility
 * May cause harm to the unborn child
 * Possible risk of impaired fertility
 * Possible risk of harm to the unborn child
 * May cause harm to breast-fed babies
 * Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed
 * Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking
 * Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness
 * Possible risk of irreversible effects


 * Reacts violently with water, liberating extremely flammable gases
 * Contact with water liberates toxic, extremely flammable gases
 * Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed
 * Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
 * Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed
 * Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Very toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Irritating to eyes and respiratory system
 * Irritating to eyes and skin
 * Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin
 * Irritating to respiratory system and skin
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * May cause sensitisation by inhalation and skin contact
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
 * Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
 * Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects if swallowed
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed
 * Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed

R-Phrases no longer in use

 * R13: Extremely flammable liquified gas.
 * R47: May cause birth defects.