MIZUKEN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, hereinafter "MIZUKEN") has been accredited as Japan's first contract testing laboratory for the Water Quality Association (WQA). This accreditation enables testing for NSF standards to be conducted within Japan, allowing manufacturers of plumbing materials and water purifiers to reduce transportation costs and testing times associated with requesting tests in the United States. Overview of WQA Accreditation Accrediting Body: Water Quality Association (WQA) Scope of Accreditation: Third-party verification of the following NSF standards NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 Section 8 (Mechanical Device) Evaluates whether materials, components, and products that come into contact with drinking water leach harmful chemicals into the water Health effects standard NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 Lead Content Evaluation Standard that specifies the lead content in products that come into contact with drinking water NSF/ANSI 42 Material Evaluation Performance standard for water purifiers that improve the aesthetic effects of drinking water *2026-2028 Certificate Supporting Overseas Expansion for Domestic Manufacturers NSF Standards Adopted Worldwide NSF standards are adopted in all administrative districts of all 50 states in the U.S. and 13 provinces/territories in Canada. Compliance with these standards is mandatory, and all plumbing materials and water supply equipment sold in the U.S. and Canada must bear the NSF certification mark. Major Certification Bodies Currently, representative organizations that can issue certifications indicating compliance with NSF standards include the following: 1 NSF International (National Sanitation Foundation) *2) 2 WQA (Water Quality Association) 3 IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) Previous Challenges None of the three organizations above had accredited contract testing laboratories in Japan. Previously, Japanese manufacturers of water supply equipment, water purifiers, etc.,