EFSIS, the global food inspection and certification specialists are delighted to announce that they have become part of the SAI Global Group. SAI is one of the world’s leading business publishing, compliance, training and assurance organisations. The acquisition of EFSIS Limited was announced to the Australian stock market on 21st December and takes effect immediately.

EFSIS will become the global food division within SAI Global, enhancing EFSIS’ worldwide coverage of the food inspection and certification market, by adding physical offices in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia and North America to the current EFSIS operations in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden and Thailand.

The EFSIS management team are delighted with the news and are looking forward to working as part of a large international group. Managing Director, Mark Proctor, expanded further, “The EFSIS Mission is to become the word’s leading inspection and certification body in the food, drink and allied industries, and this move takes us a giant step closer to achieving it. SAI is a very dynamic and progressive organisation that will allow EFSIS to expand its worldwide coverage and offer our customers local solutions in countries throughout the world. I firmly believe that SAI are well equipped to make EFSIS the international market leader in food inspection and certification.”

In concluding the deal yesterday, the Chief Executive of SAI Global Limited Ross Wraight, said, "This transaction delivers on SAI’s strategy to build a leading global assurance business and have a significant physical presence in the European market.

"The acquisition enhances the business in three important aspects, it provides:

• A significant increase to the European business base of the Assurance Services Division, and enhances opportunities for further growth across Europe;
• A powerful enhancement to SAI’s business in the rapidly growing market for agri-food safety certification and inspection
• Access to a well-respected brand, an established customer base, and quality annuity style income streams."

Mark Proctor outlined the attraction of EFSIS in the marketplace, "EFSIS currently has a major share of the food inspection market in the United Kingdom and we are the European brand leader in the food sector having become one of the most widely recognised certification bodies among retailers and other purchasers.

"Our inspection and certification services are independently accredited across the world to the various European standards, EN45004, EN45011 and EN45012."

The EFSIS portfolio of products includes inspection and certification to the BRC and IFS standards, ISO9000 and 22000, a complete range of farm assurance standards including FABBL, EUREPGAP and Bord Bia, Organic inspections and a whole host of other inspections across the whole food chain.

Ends.