As European Union countries prepare for the full implementation of the revised European Drinking Water Directive (DWD) on January 1, 2027, NSF International has launched a new EU-MHR Pre-Assessment Service aimed at helping manufacturers meet the forthcoming Minimum Health Requirements (EU-MHR) ahead of the deadline.
The service, unveiled on December 3, 2025, is designed to address rising industry concerns over regulatory complexity, limited testing capacity and potential certification delays as EU-wide standards replace diverse national schemes across all 27 member states.
“While EU-MHR changes the game for the entire European water supply chain, manufacturers face a perfect storm of tight deadlines, limited testing capacity and complex new requirements,” said David Platt, director of Water, EMEA, at NSF. “Our EU-MHR Pre-Assessment Services remove the uncertainty by enabling you to prepare for EU-MHR now. It identifies compliance gaps and gives companies a head start to secure Europe-wide market access.”
The Pre-Assessment Service evaluates technical information on materials and formulations, reviews production facilities and quality systems, and includes testing in European laboratories under EU-MHR conditions. It is available to manufacturers of products that come into contact with drinking water, such as pipes, valves, fittings, gaskets and pumps, before formal certification begins.
The Pre-Assessment Service evaluates technical information on materials and formulations, reviews production facilities and quality systems
NSF has also developed Protocol 534 (P534), which allows producers to verify material safety and compliance for raw materials and intermediate products early in the production process, potentially reducing downstream risks and speeding readiness for requirements under EU-MHR.
“The transition from fragmented national schemes to harmonized EU standards represents the biggest regulatory change in European water safety in decades and affects thousands of manufacturers,” said Samantha Duffy, senior manager of Global Water Programs, EU & UK, at NSF. “Early preparation is key; companies that start their compliance journey now will maintain a competitive advantage while others face potential delays and market exclusion.”
The harmonized EU-MHR framework replaces national certifications such as France’s ACS and Germany’s UBA guidelines with a unified standard that requires independent third-party certification, regular facility audits, and detailed product documentation for all products that contact drinking water.
According to NSF, demand for pre-assessment services has grown as manufacturers seek to avoid market entry delays and ensure compliance well before the end-of-2026 transition period.
