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What Is a CAS Number?

By July 19, 2012September 10th, 2020Regulations, Services

Here at ICC Compliance Center and depending on your application, we may ask you for a CAS number. When we create labels on demand for your exports, among other services, we will ask you to provide us with the chemical name and CAS number and then we are able to provide as few as 100 GHS compliant labels  and/or a compliant SDS.

A CAS number or CAS Registry number is a unique identifier for every chemical substance dating back to 1957. The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) is the responsible entity that is responsible for assigning a unique number to every chemical described in scientific literature.

A CAS number itself has no meaning. Its primary use is to avoid confusion between chemicals with similar names, or individual chemicals that may have multiple names. It is also used to identify the chemical when a generic or trade name is used.

A CAS Registry Number is separated by hyphens into three parts, the first consisting of up to seven digits, the second consisting of two digits and the third consisting of a single digit.

In short, the CAS number can be particularly useful in database searches because it allows you to search a database and easily pull every record for that particular substance or chemical. For example, “Methanol” is known by multiple names such as methyl alcohol, methyl hydrate, hydroxymethane and wood alcohol but this chemical can be identified as one specific substance using the CAS number, which is 67-56-1.

Give us a call today at 888.442.9628 for all your GHS labeling and SDS requirements and remember to provide us your CAS numbers.

Karrie Ishmael, CDGP

Karrie Ishmael has been with ICC since 1988. She has contributed to ICC's growth in various capacities, including customer service, sales, and marketing. In her current role as ICC's Senior Regulatory Expert and SDS author, Karrie conducts hazardous materials training classes in 49 CFR, IATA, IMDG, TDG along with OSHA and WHMIS hazard communication courses. When not training, she writes safety data sheets for customers to comply with North American and European requirements. She actively participates in many associations, including DGAC, COSTHA and is the former chair of SCHC’s OSHA Alliance Committee.

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