First "NSF Japan Water Forum 2026" Held, Sharing International Water Standards and Regulatory Trends

NSF (headquartered in the US), a leading global organization dedicated to protecting human health, shared international water quality standards and regulatory trends at an event co-hosted with the U.S. Embassy Commercial Service in Tokyo on June 11. The inaugural "NSF Japan Water Forum" brought together industry leaders and public sector stakeholders to discuss securing safe drinking water in Japan.

"NSF Japan is committed to providing manufacturers and industry leaders with the international standards and services required to ensure water treatment systems meet rigorous compliance requirements," said Takako Kuwabara, Project Manager at NSF Japan. "The NSF Japan Water Forum further strengthens this commitment, fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders while showcasing cutting-edge industry insights and expertise."

During the forum, Nasrin Kashefi, Director of Plastics and Plumbing Products for NSF's North American Water Division, introduced existing NSF standards and U.S. regulatory trends. Following this, Taihei Oshima, Territory Account Executive at NSF Japan, presented an overview of NSF DWTU-related regulations and the European Minimum Hygiene Requirements (EU-MHR), which establishes a unified regulatory framework applicable across all 27 EU member states. He highlighted how NSF's Protocol 534 helps manufacturers perform product pre-evaluations and certifications to prepare for EU-MHR compliance.

The program concluded with a lively panel discussion featuring NSF clients: Takashi Sugimoto, General Manager of Quality Assurance Department at Asahi Kasei Corporation; Tomoaki Yokota, Chief Staff Member at Daicel Corporation; and Itsuki Sugihara of Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd. Moderated by NSF Japan's Kuwabara, the discussion began with introductions of each company's NSF-certified products. Panelists discussed the impact of NSF certification on R&D activities, marketing, and sales, as well as the support they hope to receive from NSF for future business growth. The panel focused on the role of standards in ensuring safe drinking water from source to tap, as well as innovative, localized solutions to address industry challenges.

NSF Japan has served the food, water, and wellness industries for nearly 30 years. The organization assists companies in water, food processing, food equipment, restaurants, retail, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and personal care sectors, supporting safety, quality, and regulatory compliance domestically as well as for exports to North America, Europe, and other regions.

<Program of the Day>

- Introduction of Existing NSF Standards and U.S. Regulatory Trends Nasrin Kashefi (Director, Plastics and Plumbing Products, NSF North American Water Division)

- Introduction of NSF DWTU Standards and EU-MHR (Including P534) Taihei Oshima (Territory Account Executive, NSF Japan)

- Panel Discussion Facilitator: Takako Kuwabara (Project Manager, NSF Japan) Panelists: Mr. Takashi Sugimoto (General Manager of Quality Assurance Department, Asahi Kasei Corporation), Mr. Tomoaki Yokota (Chief Staff Member, Daicel Corporation), Mr. Itsuki Sugihara (Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd.)

- Q&A Session

About NSF NSF is an independent global services organization that, for over 80 years, has been dedicated to protecting and improving human health by developing public health standards and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, consulting services, and digital solutions. It offers these services to the food, water, and wellness product industries. NSF serves 40,000 customers in 110 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Food Safety and Water Quality.