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

Brussels, Belgium – 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,” said Vincent Boks, Vice President of Water at NSF. “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.”

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

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.