CAS – what is it?
The term “CAS” stands for Chemical Abstracts Service, a division of the American Chemical Society. CAS is best known for its unique numerical identifier, the CAS Registry Number, assigned to every chemical substance described in the open literature. These CAS Numbers serve as a reliable and standardized identifier for chemicals, streamlining research, commerce, and regulatory processes. Within sectors such as the food, feed, and industrial sectors served by Foodcom S.A., CAS Numbers are crucial in product specification sheets, safety data sheets, and regulatory documentation to ensure precise identification of chemical substances.
Most common questions
1. Why is a CAS Number important?
A CAS Number provides a unique and unambiguous identifier for a chemical substance, irrespective of its name or source. This ensures that businesses, researchers, and regulators are all referring to the same material, eliminating confusion and enhancing safety and compliance.
2. How is a CAS Number structured?
A CAS Number is a sequence of numbers divided by hyphens into three parts. The first part can have up to seven digits, the second part consists of two digits, and the third part is a single digit. This last digit serves as a checksum to validate the number.
3. Can one chemical have multiple CAS Numbers?
Typically, a specific chemical substance will have only one CAS Number. However, different isomers or salts of a substance, or different phases (e.g., hydrated vs. anhydrous forms) will have distinct CAS Numbers.
4. How are CAS Numbers relevant in the food and feed industries?
In the food and feed industries, accurate identification of chemical substances is essential for safety, quality, and compliance. Whether it’s a food additive, a preservative, or a feed supplement, its CAS Number helps in ensuring that the correct ingredient is used, properly labeled, and meets regulatory standards.
5. Where can one verify a CAS Number?
The primary source for verifying CAS Numbers is through the CAS Registry database, which contains detailed information about millions of chemical substances. Additionally, various chemical suppliers and industry-specific databases often provide access to CAS Number information for their products.
