2. What's it for? What's in it for me?

The purpose of classifying a chemical substance or mixture is to identify the hazardous properties it may present. These hazards, linked to the chemical nature of the substance, may be due to physical properties (flammability, explosibility...), toxic properties endangering the health of users, or its capacity to produce harmful effects on the environment.

Recognition of these hazards is an essential first step in identifying and managing the risks they may pose (see figure "What's the difference between hazard and risk?" on the notions of hazard vs. risk). In particular, the first direct consequence is to include this information on the label of the chemical products concerned, in order to inform users of the potential hazards and provide the first practical information for safe product use.