The Federation of Asian Chemical Societies, FACS, was established in 1978 based on a solicitation by UNESCO's Division of Scientific Education & Research. The initial member societies were Australia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Iraq. The CSJ officially joined the Federation in 1981. The objective of the FACS is stated in its Statutes as "to promote the advancement of chemistry and the interest of professional chemists in the Asia-Pacific region in a way that does not detract from the autonomy of any of the member societies."

Michio Kobayashi of the Tokyo Metropolitan University, then a Vice President of the CSJ, contributed much to the earlier activities of the FACS. In 1993, the position was taken over by Hitoshi Ohtaki of Ritsumeikan University.

Japan was the host country of the FACS for 1997, with Ohtaki as President, Yoshito Takeuchi of Kanagawa University as Secretary General, and Hajime Akimoto of the University of Tokyo as Chairman for the Publications Committee. The 7th Asian Chemical Congress was held in Hiroshima in May 1997 with 900 participants.

Currently Kazuko Matsumoto of Waseda University represents the CSJ in the FACS, and Masato M. Ito of Soka University serves as the Coordinator of Projects.