NSF Achieves European Accreditation for Drinking Water Product Certification Ahead of 2027 EU Deadline

22 July 2026

The ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation from BELAC complements NSF’s testing capacity, enabling end-to-end support for EU Drinking Water Directive (DWD) readiness ahead of the January 2027 deadline

BRUSSELS, July 21, 2026 – NSF, a global human health organization, has been accredited by the Belgian Accreditation Body (BELAC) to conduct conformity assessment activities under the European Union’s revised Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184. This ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation positions NSF to certify products under the new framework, once designated as a notified body, when EU-MHR certification opens in January 2027.

Established under Article 11 of the revised Drinking Water Directive (DWD), EU-MHR replaces a fragmented landscape of national approval schemes, such as Germany’s UBA guidelines and France’s ACS, with a single harmonized framework, directly applicable in every EU Member State. Products holding valid national certificates on December 31, 2026, may continue to be sold under those schemes until the end of 2032, provided there are no changes affecting the product's composition or performance. After that, EU-MHR certification becomes the sole pathway to the European market for products used to abstract, store or distribute drinking water.

Europe’s move to harmonized hygiene requirements is one of the most significant regulatory shifts in the drinking water sector in decades. With our new DWD accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065 alongside our ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing facilities, NSF is ready to deliver a one-stop solution providing high-quality, locally accessible testing and assessment services that help manufacturers prepare for the 2027 deadline and throughout the transition period to 2032.”

Vincent Boks, Vice President of Water at NSF.

Despite the five-year transition period, manufacturers preparing for these changes face tight timelines to update product portfolios and technical documentation. The regulatory workload is increasing, and new testing methodologies differ from many national schemes, adding complexity. These include migration testing under chlorinated water conditions, which verifies that materials do not release harmful substances into drinking water over time. With more than 600 substances on the EU positive list due to expire in 2028 and European testing capacity expected to come under pressure, early preparation is critical. NSF’s accreditation and comprehensive services help manufacturers navigate these challenges efficiently, reducing risk and protecting market access.

Since certification bodies cannot issue EU-MHR certificates before 1 January 2027, the practical step available to manufacturers now is early gap analysis. NSF’s EU-MHR pre-assessment services identify compliance gaps before formal requirements take effect, while NSF Protocol 534 (P534) helps suppliers of pre-products, ingredients, raw materials and intermediate products demonstrate compliance, reducing downstream risk across the supply chain.

Starting compliance efforts early can prevent costly delays and safeguard market access as requirements tighten. NSF is committed to guiding manufacturers through every step, from formulation review to testing and conformity assessment, building confidence in their compliance strategy so they are ready when the new framework applies on 1 January 2027.”

Samantha Duffy, Senior Manager of Global Water Programs, EU and UK Schemes, at NSF.

NSF’s Rheda-Wiedenbrück facility builds on the organization’s growing European water testing footprint, providing in-region testing for NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 and 61, UBA, ACS, P534 and now EU DWD. This local presence supports manufacturers with shorter logistics chains and faster access to technical expertise.

Manufacturers can assess their exposure using NSF’s practical EU-MHR handbook. To learn more about NSF’s EU Drinking Water Directive services, including EU-MHR pre-assessment support and P534, visit nsf.org.

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Contact: Steven MacEwan, Communications Manager, NSF, media@nsf.org

NSF

For more than 80 years, NSF has helped businesses and consumers navigate complexity with confidence through science-driven standards, rigorous testing, certification, research and advisory services across food, water and wellness. Guided by its purpose to protect and advance human health, NSF works to strengthen trust in the products, systems and services people rely on every day. From scientific expertise and standards development to testing and certification, NSF helps organizations raise the bar for quality, safety, transparency and compliance around the world.

Notes to editors

About the revised EU Drinking Water Directive and EU-MHR: The revised Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) was adopted in December 2020. Article 11 establishes the EU Minimum Hygiene Requirements (EU-MHR), a single, harmonized framework for materials and products in contact with drinking water, replacing fragmented national approval schemes such as UBA (Germany) and ACS (France).

Key dates: EU-MHR applies from Jan. 1, 2027 and is directly applicable to all EU Member States. Products holding valid national hygiene certificates on Dec. 31, 2026 may continue to be sold under those national schemes until Dec. 31, 2032, after which EU-MHR certification becomes the sole pathway to the EU market.

Products in scope: EU-MHR covers materials and products used in water abstraction, treatment, storage and distribution, and in domestic plumbing systems, including pipes, fittings, valves, pumps, tanks, coatings, sealants, gaskets, water meters and point-of-use/point-of-entry devices. Even small components such as seals and O-rings may fall within scope.

What EU-MHR requires: Mandatory use of EU positive lists for starting substances, harmonized migration and performance testing, EU-level conformity assessment (EU type examination and quality assurance of production), an EU Declaration of Conformity, and mandatory “Suitable for Drinking Water” marking on product, packaging and documentation.

About the accreditation: ISO/IEC 17065 is the international standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services. BELAC is the Belgian national accreditation body. Details of the accredited entity and its scope are available in the BELAC directory: Weblists. NSF’s accredited testing facilities operate in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, including its Rheda-Wiedenbrück laboratory in Germany.