Cotecna Reaffirms Its Global Commitment to Delivering Expert Testing, Certification, and Halal Services That Ensure Safe, High-Quality, and Compliant Food Systems for Consumers Worldwide.
On World Food Safety Day, Cotecna highlights its long-standing commitment to protecting public health, strengthening consumer trust, and supporting the global food industry in meeting the highest safety, ethical, and quality standards.
Food safety is not just a regulatory obligation, it is a shared responsibility that spans producers, manufacturers, regulators, and consumers. Ensuring that food is safe, authentic, and compliant builds confidence across supply chains, supports sustainable practices, and ultimately safeguards the well-being of communities worldwide.
Why Food Safety Matters
As food systems evolve and global trade expands, the complexity of food safety challenges increases. Today’s consumers demand not only safe products but also transparency, ethical sourcing, and accountability. For businesses, this means keeping pace with changing regulations, emerging contaminants, and evolving market expectations, while maintaining operational excellence and product integrity.
Verification of Conformity (VOC) Programs Focused on Food Safety
Cotecna operates several VOC programs to ensure that food products meet the safety and quality standards of importing countries:
- Saudi Arabia - SFDA Food Program: Authorized by the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), Cotecna issues Certificates of Conformity for selected regulated food products exported to Saudi Arabia. This program ensures the safety and security of food facilitating trade and reinforcing consumer confidence.
- Qatar Food Conformity Assessment Program: Appointed by Qatar's Ministry of Public Health – Food Safety Department, Cotecna operates the Qatar Food Conformity Programme in partnership with Process Dynamics Laboratories. Covered categories include meat and meat products, dairy and milk derivatives, table eggs and egg products, fruits, vegetables, raw plant materials, honey, and bee products.
- Egypt - NFSA Food Program: Cotecna is authorized by the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) of Egypt to issue Certificates of Inspection for exports of regulated food and food contact products. This program ensures that imported food products comply with Egyptian safety and quality standards.
- Nigeria - CRIA Program: Appointed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Cotecna serves as a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) agent for products imported from India. The CRIA process involves pre-shipment inspection, laboratory analysis, and verification of conformity to Nigerian standards, aiming to curb the importation of substandard and falsified products.
- United Arab Emirates – Drinking Water Certification: Cotecna is appointed by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) to certify drinking water under the Emirates Quality Mark (EQM) scheme ensuring full regulatory compliance.
- Additional VOC Programs in Africa: In addition to the above, Cotecna also accompanies exporters and importers in Verification of Conformity programs regulating food products in other African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, the Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe. These programs play a critical role in ensuring imported food items meet national safety and quality regulations, protecting local consumers and supporting compliant trade flows. Find out more about our Verification Of Conformity services.
Halal Certification: A Pillar of Food Safety and Market Access
Halal certification has become an essential part of global food safety, quality assurance, and market access. Cotecna’s halal certification services ensure that food products, ingredients, and production processes comply not only with Islamic dietary principles but also with internationally recognized food safety standards.
With over 50 years of experience, Cotecna helps businesses:
- Achieve compliance with rigorous halal and international standards
- Enhance supply chain traceability and transparency
- Strengthen brand reputation and consumer confidence
- Access expanding halal markets worldwide
Beyond certification, Cotecna supports companies in integrating halal principles into everyday operations through strong internal controls, staff training, and continuous improvement.
Targeted Solutions for Emerging Food Safety Risks
At Cotecna, we recognize the critical importance of food testing and offer a range of tailored solutions to meet diverse food requirements. Some of the services provided by the Cotecna and our subsidiary food laboratories include:
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
Cotecna offers PFAS testing in our state of the art, accredited laboratories to help identify PFAS contamination. Our new dedicated PFAS web page aims to help our clients discover the scope of our PFAS testing capabilities in a glance.
At Nofalab, Neotron, and Wimpey Laboratories our advanced laboratories, they provide precise, accredited testing to help clients meet regulatory requirements and protect consumer health.
Curcumin Testing: Tackling Adulteration in the Turmeric Supply Chain
Discover how Geo-Chem tackles the growing issue of turmeric adulteration in the supply chain through cutting-edge testing and innovative solutions. Read more.
Fish and Fishery Product Testing Requirements for EIC Compliance
Shiva Analyticals has extensive experience in helping clients to comply EIC regulations. Our seafood testing capabilities cover all the major EIC requirements. Read more.
Organic Food Analysis & Certification
Fitosoil reaffirms its commitment to quality and food safety, providing high-precision analysis services for the organic products sector. Read more here.
Suolo e Salute is accredited for the Quality Food productions according to the EC Reg. 1151/2012.
Kaixin Certification, ESTS and Baier all offer their own range of Food Safety services and certifications.
Discover all of the Food services we offer at Cotecna
Our specialised Food Laboratories
At Cotecna we are proud to have international laboratories specialised in Food Safety:
A Comprehensive Approach to Food Safety
Cotecna’s food safety and certification services extend across the full spectrum of industry needs, including microbiological testing, allergen detection, nutritional profiling, pesticide residue analysis, ISO 22000 certification, HACCP implementation, and GMP audits. Backed by a global network of accredited laboratories and expert teams, Cotecna delivers fast, reliable solutions that help businesses uphold the highest standards and unlock new growth opportunities.
Our Shared Responsibility for Safer Food Systems
On this World Food Safety Day, Cotecna proudly stands with governments, industry partners, and clients worldwide to advance the shared mission of building safer, more resilient, and more sustainable food systems. By delivering expert testing, certification, and advisory services, Cotecna remains dedicated to supporting businesses in protecting consumers, meeting regulatory demands, and driving continuous improvement across global food supply chains.
About Cotecna
For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.