Global Health and Safety Organisation Acquires Leading Analytical Laboratory

NSF International (USA), an independent global public health and safety organisation that develops standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and pharma biotech industries, has acquired Bioensaios Analysis and Environmental Consulting Laboratory Ltd., based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It will become known as NSF Bioensaios.

Founded in 1990, Bioensaios is a leading analytical laboratory that provides GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) studies and highly specialised testing services, including ecotoxicity, for a range of domestic and international companies as well as government agencies serving the water, food and agribusiness industries. NSF International clients now have access to NSF Bioensaios' full set of services, including environmental evaluations for freshwater, seawater, effluent, soil and sediment; valuation reports on drinking water, food and feed safety; and OECD-GLP studies for chemical products, drugs, materials and components.

“NSF International’s acquisition of Bioensaios significantly enhances both organisations. In addition, it expands NSF’s technical leadership in water, food safety, health sciences and sustainability in Latin America’s largest market while reinforcing NSF’s global commitment to technical excellence,” said Kevan P. Lawlor, NSF International President and CEO.

The acquisition complements NSF International’s existing operations in Peru, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica, and its recent acquisition of the INASSA Group, a Peruvian leader in testing for the water, seafood, pharmaceutical and mining industries.

“As part of NSF International’s global organisation, we know Bioensaios found a partner that shares the same commitment to providing the most comprehensive solutions developed from an intimate understanding of  standards, quality and conformity to assist our clients’ unique needs,” said Bioensaios Co-Founder Ellen Martha Pritsch. “We are thrilled to offer our clients the full range of NSF’s global services and to bring our market expertise to NSF’s roster of customers worldwide.”

Drinking Water Expertise.  NSF Bioensaios tests both water supply systems and bottled water, and evaluates water treatment chemicals, drinking water system components and nonfood compounds (e.g. lubricants). Its leadership was instrumental in working with the Brazilian government to adopt a water treatment chemical standard that is based on two American National Standards that NSF helped develop, NSF/ANSI Standard 60 for drinking water treatment chemicals and NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for drinking water system components.

Agribusiness/Food Safety. NSF Bioensaios food/feed industry services include testing food and feed products in all sectors of the supply chain for pesticide and veterinary drug residues, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), heavy metals and other contaminants. NSF Bioensaios acts as an official laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture to test Brazilian agricultural production for export. It also provides analytical support to public health surveillance networks and supermarkets in control of chemical contaminants on food.

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Studies. NSF Bioensaios provides GLP studies for testing chemicals to obtain data on their properties and/or their safety with respect to human health and the environment, including field studies developed for the purpose of meeting regulatory requirements in Latin America and Asia.

NSF International Center of Excellence for Ecotoxicity Testing. Due to NSF Bioensaios’ strength in ecotoxicity testing, it will become part of NSF International’s Center of Excellence for Ecotoxicity Testing, combining NSF’s broad range of environmental and sustainability services with NSF Bioensaios’ expertise in environmental impact studies and toxicity testing. This includes chemical analyses and microbiological and toxicity tests of agrochemicals, drilling fluids, surface water, sea water, wastewater treatment stations, and soils and sediments, as well as environmental monitoring.

NSF Bioensaios staff includes 70 scientific and environmental experts who will remain in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Bioensaios´ founder Ellen Martha Pritsch will continue to lead its growth and development as Director of Business Operations and Alexandre Brandelli, Director of Laboratory Services, will retain his leadership of the laboratory. NSF Bioensaios is recognized as GLP-OECD by INMETRO and accredited in ISO 17025 INMETRO, MAPA and REBLAS/ANVISA.