NSF and ANIMA Renew and Update Partnership Agreement

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and MILAN, Italy – Global public health organization NSF and ANIMA, the Italian Federation of National Associations of Mechanical and Engineering Industries (Federazione delle Associazioni Nazionali dell'Industria Meccanica varia ed affine), have renewed and expanded their 11-year partnership. The continued collaboration will help ANIMA members understand testing and certification processes and requirements for commercial food equipment and the water treatment and plumbing industries. NSF and ANIMA will also promote each other’s websites and partner at trade shows. This renewed partnership will be announced at HOST, the leading event for Ho.Re.Ca., food service, retail, mass-market and hôtellerie industries.

Under this renewed partnership, NSF continues to extend its range of services in the food equipment and water sectors. ANIMA, founded over 100 years ago in Milan, Italy, is comprised of 34 associations representing over 1,000 manufacturing companies and 60 product sectors. Through this partnership, ANIMA members in Italy and abroad have access to a wide range of services and support as well as special rates for workshops, services and seminars. ANIMA member associations include Aqua Italia (Italian Association of Water Treatment and Product Manufacturers), Assofoodtec (Italian Association of Machinery and Plant Manufacturers for Food Production, Processing and Preservation), Assopompe (Italian Association of Pump Manufacturers), AVR (Italian Association of Valve and Fittings Manufacturers) and FIAC (Italian Association of Household Items Manufacturers).

“As a public health organization, we are always looking for ways to work closely with industry leaders and share knowledge and expertise that NSF has developed over the last 70 years,” said Tarik Bellahcene, Director, Water Systems, EMEA, NSF. “This partnership with ANIMA creates opportunities to collaborate with its membership by promoting each other’s organizations and services while sharing information and expertise.”

“ANIMA is pleased to expand this partnership with NSF as it provides expertise in NSF standards for water testing and food equipment to help our members understand the standard requirements through training, pre-assessment and certification services,” said Andrea Orlando, Director of ANIMA. “Collaboration between our two organizations will benefit our members and the food equipment, water treatment and plumbing industries.”

NSF led the development of the American National Standards for materials/products coming into contact with drinking water. The plumbing industry is familiar with NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects as the nationally and internationally recognized health effects standard for all devices, components and materials that come in contact with drinking water. Recognized by regulatory agencies at the local, state, federal and international level, the NSF certification mark on a product means that the product complies with all standard requirements.

NSF food equipment standards include requirements for material safety, design and construction to ensure the product is cleanable and is not likely to harbor bacteria. They also address product performance. NSF certification to these standards also includes audits of the production facility to ensure the product is made using Good Manufacturing Practices.

Editor’s Note: For media interested in more information or to schedule an interview with Tarik Bellahcene, Managing Director, EMEA, NSF’s Global Water Division, please visit our Contact Us page or call +1 734 214 6242.

About NSF: NSF (nsf.org) is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With clients in more than 170 countries, NSF is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

NSF’s global water services include testing, certification and auditing for municipal water treatment components and chemicals, plastic piping systems, plumbing fixtures and fittings, point-of-use and point-of-entry water systems and filters.

About ANIMA: ANIMA - Federation of Italian Associations of Mechanical and Engineering Industries (www.anima.it) - is a trade association within Confindustria (Italian Confederation of Industry). In 2016 the sector employed 210,000 people with 44 billion euro turnover, 59 percent of which was from exports. Started in 1914, ANIMA includes 60 trade associations and 1,000 member-companies. Macrosectors represented include machines and plants for energy production and for the oil and gas sector; logistics and handling of goods; technologies and equipment for food processing and water technologies; technologies and products for industry; plants and equipment for buildings; and machines and plants for environmental and personal protection, firefighting and safety.