NSF Protocol 534
Evaluation of Formulations, Pre-products, Intermediate Products, Constituent Products, and Site-applied Products in Connection with the European Drinking Water Directive.
What is NSF Protocol 534?
This guideline evaluates the health effects of various pre-products, such as resins, stabilizers, lubricants, and colorants, to confirm their safety for use in products that come into contact with drinking water, and screened against EU’s revised Drinking Water Directive (DWD). NSF Protocol 534 covers a wide range of pre-products, including:
- Individual ingredients of formulations: colorants, solvents, fillers, stabilizers, antioxidants, etc.
- Mixtures: Examples include glass fiber sizing agents and masterbatches.
- Pre-products: Such as plastic granulates.
- Intermediate products: Including coating hardeners and ingredients for cementitious materials.
- Site-applied products: Such as coatings.
Why NSF Protocol 534 is valuable for your business
If the pre-products are certified to NSF Protocol 534, compliance with the DWD requirements has already been screened. The need for any further technical evaluation (e.g., enhanced microbial growth) depends on the risk group, but in any event, pre-product suppliers will save downstream users time by already having taken care of formulation review and testing for leachable substances in your product.
| Advantage | For product manufacturers | For pre-product suppliers |
| EU HS readiness |
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| Supply chain resilience |
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| Shorter time to certification |
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| Reduced costs |
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| Enhanced quality assurance |
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A streamlined certification process
Certification to NSF P534 has been designed to be as straightforward as possible, encompassing:
- Technical review: An in-depth review of the ingredient/pre-product information.
- Case-by-Case Testing: Tailored testing to meet the requirements of the EU Harmonized Standard.
- Production Facility Audit: To further demonstrate your commitment to quality.
Regular testing is not required unless significant changes are made to the production process.
Once certified, pre-products are listed on NSF’s public website, making it easier for manufacturers to source safe pre-products and establish a strong, compliant presence in the EU market.