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What Is NSF Certification?

Millions of people take the safety of their food, water and consumer products for granted on a daily basis. Why? Because of three letters: NSF. NSF certification is your key to making sure that the products you use meet strict standards for public health protection.

Choosing a product certified by NSF lets you know the company complies with strict standards and procedures imposed by NSF. From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, every aspect of a product's development is thoroughly evaluated before it can earn our certification.

Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event, but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and regular re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time. If for any reason a product fails to meet one or more certification criteria, NSF will take enforcement actions to protect you, including product recall, public notification or de-certification.

Products that earn NSF certification are said to be “NSF certified” or “NSF listed” and display the applicable NSF certification mark to show that they have been tested by one of today’s most respected independent product testing organizations.

How NSF Can Help You

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What’s New with NSF

  • NSF Welcomes Nicole Parent Haughey to Board of Directors

    September 10, 2026
    NSF's appointment of Nicole supports the organisation's continued focus on long-term growth and transformation.
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  • Inspector at a metal recycling center

    GRSO (RIOS) and NSF Announce Strategic Alliance to Strengthen RIOS Compliance Infrastructure Across India

    August 31, 2026
    This milestone marks the successful completion of the RIOS Auditor Course by NSF’s team in India and the establishment of a robust regional compliance infrastructure to support organizations seeking RIOS certification.
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  • NSF Launches Independent Certification Standard for Compact Products

    August 25, 2026
    New third-party certification verifies products cutting materials and shipping impacts while maintaining safety and performance.
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  • NSF Achieves European Accreditation for Drinking Water Product Certification Ahead of 2027 EU Deadline

    July 22, 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.
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