NSF research warns drinking water product manufacturers are unprepared for 2027 EU rules

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UK manufacturers who export drinking water products to the European Union are staring down the barrel of potential certification delays due to new EU hygiene requirements, as highlighted by research from the global public health organization NSF.

A survey involving 110 senior decision-makers in manufacturing across the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain revealed that 99% felt confident about their understanding of the new EU Minimum Hygiene Requirements (EU-MHR). However, only a mere 7% had actually completed a compliance gap assessment.

Only 22% had put together detailed testing and certification plans, and a staggering 89% hadn’t reached out to a laboratory, certification body, or consultancy for help. Even more concerning, 30% indicated they wouldn’t consider bringing in an external partner until 2027.

These new requirements kick in from January 2027 under the revised EU Drinking Water Directive, which applies to products and materials that come into contact with drinking water—think pipes, valves, meters, seals, and coatings.

Products that hold qualifying national approvals valid as of December 31, 2026, might benefit from transitional arrangements that last until 2032. However, it’s important to note that UK certifications like WRAS Approval don’t automatically guarantee conformity with EU-MHR.

NSF’s findings also revealed that 88% of manufacturers expect delays due to limited testing and audit capacity, with over a third struggling to obtain crucial supplier documentation.

Samantha Duffy, Senior Manager of Global Water Programmes for the EU and UK at NSF, cautioned:

“Those who delay may find themselves facing the compliance deadline and the capacity backlog simultaneously.”

Manufacturers are urged to conduct gap assessments, review material formulations, gather supplier documentation, and plan their conformity assessments to reduce the risk of disruption to their access to the EU market.

For more details, check out the NSF EU-MHR Readiness Gap Whitepaper.