Founded in 1944, NSF International is committed to protecting and improving human health on a global scale. NSF International is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides standards development, product certification, auditing, education and risk management for public health and the environment. manufacturers, regulators and consumers alike look to NSF International for the development of public health standards and certification that help protect the world's food, water, health and consumer products.
History
NSF International was founded from the University of Michigan's School of Public Health as the National Sanitation Foundation to standardize sanitation and food safety requirements 66 years ago. The transparent, consensus-based process established to develop NSF International's first standards regarding the sanitation of soda fountain and luncheonette equipment, became the process by which NSF International developed other public health and safety standards. To date, NSF has developed more than 75 public health and safety American National Standards. As NSF expanded services beyond sanitation and into new international markets, the name was changed to NSF International in 1990. NSF continues to provide services in the areas of food, water, environment and consumer products.
NSF International is an accredited, third-party certification body that tests and certifies products to verify they meet these public health and safety standards. Products that meet these standards bear the NSF Mark, which is respected by consumers, manufacturers, retailer s and regulatory agencies at the local, state, federal and international level.
Widely recognized for its scientific and technical expertise in the health and environmental sciences, NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. NSF operates more than 165,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space and serves companies in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 1,200-plus staff includes microbiologists, toxicologists, chemists, engineers, environmental and public health professionals.
Mission
NSF International is dedicated to being the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions while serving the interests of all stakeholders, namely the public, the business community and government agencies.
NSF Programs
NSF International helps protect and improve public health and the environment by offering services in several different areas including food, water, health sciences, consumer products, sustainability, and management systems registration.
The NSF Global Food Division provides experienced and accredited services across all supply chain sectors, from agriculture, produce, processing, distribution and dairy, to seafood, retail and restaurants. Services include Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification (SQF, BRC, GLOBALG.A.P., FSSC, IFS, Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC)), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, plus expert auditing, consulting and technical services, HACCP validation and inspection, and organic and gluten-free certification through QAI (quality assurance International). NSF is also the leading certifier of foodservice equipment, nonfood compounds and bottled water/beverages.
The NSF Water Division certifies products that come into contact with drinking water, such as plumbing components, water treatment chemicals and drinking water filters, as well as pool and spa equipment. NSF led the development of the American National Standards for all materials and products that treat or come in contact with drinking water to help protect public health and the environment and minimize adverse health effects. In 1990, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water product advisory program with these NSF standards. Today, most plumbing codes require certification to NSF standards for pipes and plumbing components in commercial and residential buildings.
The NSF Health Sciences Division offers reference standards, certification, training, consulting, GMP and GLP testing, R&D and auditing for the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and medical device industries. It includes NSF Reference Standards, NSF Dietary Supplement Certification, NSF Pharmalytica and NSF-DBA.
The NSF Consumer Products Division tests and certifies consumer products and appliances used in and around the home including toys, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and kitchen products such as cookware, cutlery and cutting boards.
NSF sustainability offers a range of sustainable business solutions, including standards development and certification for green products such as carpet, flooring, fabrics and other building materials; and process verification services such as greenhouse gas verification, environmental footprinting, and environmental management systems registrations.
NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR) offers comprehensive management systems registrations to internationally accepted standards for quality assurance for the automotive, aerospace, medical, and manufacturing industries (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS9100, etc).
NSF Education and Training helps companies meet the growing needs of regulators, industry and customers, by offering training and education in each sector NSF offers services.