Amy Robles COUNTRY MANAGER, NSF INTERNATIONAL

What opportunities did NSF see in Ecuador that resulted in its setting up a presence in the country?

NSF International opened its Ecuador office in 2016, and it is strategically placed to help companies meet global and local demands to certify more products to NSF/ANSI standards, provide experienced auditing services, develop sustainable solutions that comply with local and international requirements, and create robust training programs for food safety. Having worked with Ecuadorian companies since 2008, NSF International recognizes the importance of serving the agriculture and food industry through an office that can offer security to clients, with the support of local talent. Besides maintaining our ongoing efforts to create a food safety culture here, our plan is to expand our service portfolio to include specialized testing services, training programs for Ecuadorian food industry leaders, introduce our supplier assurance and supplier management program, expand the organic certifications under the Ecuadorian Accreditation Service, and expand the reach of our hightech products designed to optimize our clients’ processes.

What role do certifications play in terms of exporters reaching a wider range of markets?

Due to complex challenges in today’s food supply chain, many of the world’s largest food retailers mandate supplier certification to global food safety initiative (GFSI) schemes. With over 2,100 technical specialists executing more than 500,000 audits annually, NSF companies are the leading global certifiers of GFSI standards. We offer services to all companies that are a part of the food supply chain to help brands ensure food safety in their products. In terms of the Ecuadorian agricultural industry, NSF offers inspections using state-of-the-art technology so contractors can remotely participate in inspections regardless of their location. Our services include evaluations of farm laborers, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), third-party audits, local audits, and certifications of Global GAP, organic, gluten-free, and cage-free, among others.