NSF International has been approved by the Emirates Standard Metrology Authority (ESMA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide auditing and testing for the Emirates Quality Mark certification of bottled drinking water.

The Emirates Quality Mark verifies that products are compliant with the relevant UAE, international and Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) standards and are manufactured by an organization implementing an effective food safety management system (FSMS) to ensure continuous compliance. By October 2014, Emirates Quality Mark certification is mandatory for all bottled waters sold in the UAE from both local and international bottlers.

Manufacturers of bottled drinking water certified to the Emirates Quality Mark will undergo an on-site audit by NSF International to assess conformity with UAE standards and regulations. The bottling facility will be audited for implementing food safety programs, including a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system and Good Manufacturing Practices, and the product will be reviewed for microbiological and chemical quality.

For over 30 years, NSF International has provided testing, auditing and certification to bottlers, retailers, associations, regulators and consumers globally in over 60 countries with over 800 bottled water audits conducted every year. NSF is the only beverage quality service provider that is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

NSF International’s bottled water certification is based on globally-accepted requirements and tests for over 160 chemicals, inorganic, radiological and microbiological contaminants. In addition, certification includes unannounced bottling facility audits, encompassing every aspect of the operation from the water source to the filling room. NSF‘s requirements focus on risk assessment and management activities and support Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements and HACCP.

To learn more about NSF’s bottled water/beverage services visit NSF's bottled water and beverage webpage or contact the program at bq@nsf.org.