Frequently Asked Questions

Regulators, businesses, and the general public frequently have questions about NSF and its programs and services. Select your area of interest below. If your question is not shown, send us an email and one of our public health professionals will respond.

General Regulatory Questions

  1. What do the letters "NSF" stand for?

    The letters in our organization's name do not actually stand for any specific words today. They were derived from our founding name dating back to the 1940s, which was the National Sanitation Foundation. Our name was changed to NSF International in the early 1990s when the National Sanitation Foundation and NSF Testing Labs were merged.

  2. How can I obtain current NSF Listings of certified products?

    Specific Listings of any NSF Certified product are free to anyone visiting our website. These listings are updated daily. Published Listing Books may be obtained free of charge (public health officials only) by contacting Philippa Durbin, Administration Coordinator, Standards:

    NSF International
    789 Dixboro Rd.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA

    Email: durbin@nsf.org
    Telephone: (+1) 734-827-6817
    Fax: (+1) 734-827-6165

  3. How can I get on the mailing list for NSF publications?

    By completing the application form and mailing or faxing it to NSF International, Attn: Marketing, 789 Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

  4. Who do I contact with questions regarding specific NSF or NSF/ANSI Standards (not certified products)?

    Send letter or email to Lori Bestervelt (bestervelt@nsf.org), Senior Vice President. Please enclose all pertinent information regarding the issue and the affected Standard.

  5. How can I get an NSF employee to do a presentation about a specific NSF program or service?

    Contact Stan Hazan, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs and Association Programs, at:

    Phone: 800-NSF-MARK (800-673-6275),
    Email: hazan@nsf.org

  6. How do I file a complaint about a product?

    An on-line complaint form can be reached by clicking the link above. Hard copies of the form may be obtained by contacting Stan Hazan, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs and Association Programs at:

    Phone: 800-NSF-MARK (800-673-6275)
    Email: hazan@nsf.org

    When completing a complaint form, please be sure to include all relevant information, e.g., source and location of the complaint, specific details, product description, model number and/or serial and location of complaint, specific details, product description, model number and/or serial number, evidence of NSF Mark misuse, etc.

  7. What does NSF do with a complaint about certified products?

    Upon receipt of a complaint form, a copy is forwarded to the appropriate service representative for validation. Validation should occur through an investigation at the site within two weeks. If the complaint is found valid, the subject company of the investigation is informed. If found invalid, the complaint file is closed and placed in the official NSF corporate file.

    If a complaint is valid, the manufacturer is instructed to produce corrective action to regain conformity to the Standard.

  8. What is a public notice?

    A public notice is a process by which NSF informs the public,industry, and regulatory communities of a non-conformance of public health significance found in a listed product that is not corrected. These notices are generally performed through the use of publications, press releases, and website notification.

  9. How do I propose a change to a Standard?

    An issue document can be completed by any stakeholder to suggest a modification to an existing standard. You can also contact Jessica Evans, Director of Standards, at:

    Phone: 800-NSF-MARK (800-673-6275)
    Email: jevans@nsf.org