Global Public Health Organization NSF International enhances Beverage Quality Program and appoints new Business Manager

The NSF program that provides testing and certification of packaged beverages, as well as bottled water, packaged ice and flavored beverages, to verify compliance with national and global standards (e.g. U.S. FDA, EU, WHO, etc.) has updated its evaluation criteria. These are now more risk-based and support GFSI standards, FSMA (U.S. FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act) requirements and HACCP. NSF International will now offer bundled audits so that when a GFSI audit is undertaken, the product certification requirements can be covered during the same visit, resulting in time and cost savings for beverage manufacturers. An additional certification focusing on the environmental stewardship of a bottler’s source water is also an option.

Valbona Malo has been appointed NSF Global Business Manager for the Beverage Quality Program (photo attached). Based in Brussels, Belgium, Valbona has extensive specialist experience in beverage quality. She serves as Chairman of Education & Audit Committee of Watercoolers Europe, represents NSF for the European Federation of Bottled Water and is a member of Audit Committee of European Ice Packaging Association. Valbona’s experience and knowledge of the global beverages market will be an invaluable asset in assisting clients with their certification needs and other requirements.