NSF Named Certified Body for UBA Guidelines, Strengthening its Position in European Water Product Certification

Brussels, Belgium (March 4, 2025)—NSF, a global leader in water quality testing and certification, announced that its European Headquarters in Brussels has been accredited by DAkks (the German national accreditation body) as a certified body for products that must comply with the German Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt or UBA) guidelines for materials in contact with drinking water. This achievement positions NSF as one of only five certification bodies accredited to certify against UBA guidelines in the European Union outside of Germany.

This DAkkS accreditation to certify against UBA guidelines enables NSF to provide comprehensive certification services for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. This expansion of capabilities follows NSF's recent opening of state-of-the-art laboratories in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, and the addition of ASME and NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 and 61 standards testing in Europe.

"Securing DAkks accreditation to certify against UBA guidelines, coupled with our expanded European laboratory facilities, establishes NSF as the go-to accreditation body for the upcoming EU Drinking Water Directive standard, which is in close alignment with the current UBA standard,” said David Platt, Director of Water EMEA at NSF. "This milestone demonstrates our commitment to providing manufacturers with strategic advantages in the evolving European regulatory landscape and streamlining global market access."

The accreditation comes at a critical juncture as the industry prepares to implement the European Drinking Water Directive (DWD), set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The DWD aims to ensure high-quality, safe drinking water for 448 million people across the EU, covering all water intended for human consumption.

NSF's enhanced capabilities offer manufacturers distinct advantages in preparing for these future requirements. As one of the few certification bodies authorized to certify against UBA guidelines outside of Germany, NSF provides a strategic pathway toward future EU harmonized standard compliance.

"Our Brussels headquarters now serves as a comprehensive certification hub, offering global bundling capabilities and direct access to over 80 European certification experts from a single point of contact," Platt explained. "Our investments in Europe position NSF as the largest certification provider in the market, capable of testing and certifying products against more than 500 national water standards, enhancing both efficiency and readiness for the EU harmonized standard.”

The expanded in-house capabilities strengthen NSF as a European water certification industry leader. Manufacturers can now access multilingual account managers across Europe. Platt emphasized the alignment between the upcoming EU Drinking Water Directive standard and the current UBA standard, noting, "Manufacturers with UBA certification experience will have a significant advantage as the industry transitions to the new EU harmonized standard."

NSF's achievement of DAkks accreditation to certify against UBA guidelines, combined with its expanded European presence, reinforces its commitment to water safety and quality improvement in the water industry. As the European water product market evolves, NSF stands ready to support manufacturers in meeting the highest quality and compliance standards.

For more information about certification to UBA guidelines and the future EU harmonized standard, visit NSF at the upcoming Aquatech and ISH trade shows or at nsf.org.

NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human and planet health for more than 80 years by developing public health standards and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, nutrition, water, life sciences and consumer goods industries. NSF serves 40,000 clients in 110 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Medical Device Safety.