NSF Hosts First External Review Panel for ‘NSF/KWTC 555’ with Key Asian Water Authorities

NSF, a global human health organization, held the first external review panel for its joint water safety standard with the Korea Water Technology Certification Institute (KWTC) in Seoul from July 21 to 22.

The meeting sought to gather technical input from leading water management organizations representing countries such as Malaysia and Singapore as part of the development of NSF/KWTC 555: Material Safety for Drinking Water Contact Materials, a new joint standard for Southeast Asia.

“This external meeting served as an important step in assessing whether our water safety standard with KWTC can be applied across the diverse environments in the Asian market,” said Jinhee Kim, Senior Manager, Water, NSF APAC. “As the need for a credible regional-wide water safety standard was underscored by stakeholders, we are hopeful that NSF/KWTC 555 will provide a viable and unified solution, supporting safer, more sustainable drinking water across the region.”

The discussion focused on ensuring the standard reflects the varying water supply environments and industrial conditions of countries across Asia, rather than imposing the requirements of any single country. Representatives from major Southeast Asian organizations attended, including SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia’s premier industrial research and technology organization; Malaysia’s National Water Services Commission (SPAN); Singapore’s national water agency (PUB); and Singapore Test Lab (STL). Participants shared their expertise in water quality management and product certification, providing input on the technical direction of NSF/KWTC 555 and its potential applications across the region.

NSF and KWTC will incorporate the feedback into the standard, which will undergo further review and consensus among relevant stakeholders. Through the initiative, the two organizations seek to establish a consistent testing and evaluation framework that can be widely used across Asia.

As a result, water-related manufacturers will be able to reference clear, more consistent criteria for demonstrating the safety of their products. This will reduce the burden of repeated testing and certification across individual countries, improve access to Asian markets, and provide a foundation for delivering water-related products whose safety and reliability have been verified to consumers.

NSF, founded in North America, has long been a leader in water safety, providing independent, internationally recognized verification to help utilities, manufacturers, regulators and consumers make informed decisions with greater confidence. The organization also provides certification services for standards in the United Kingdom and Europe. From source to tap, NSF verifies the safety and performance of products throughout the water system, including treatment technologies, pipes, filtration systems and drinking water appliances.

NSF supports companies and institutions worldwide in improving their quality, safety, transparency and regulatory compliance, and is designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety and Water Quality.

Building on its global expertise, NSF is expanding its activities across the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, NSF views Korea as a key regional hub and is exploring opportunities to develop standards that reflect the environmental conditions and industrial needs of markets including ASEAN and India.