Kiwa and KWTC strengthen cooperation to boost EU – UK and Korean market access

11 May 2026

During the Korea – German Water Industry Cooperation Seminar at the Novotel München Messe, held alongside the International Trade Fair for Wastewater Technology (IFAT), Kiwa and the Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification (KWTC) formalized their long-standing collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The agreement marks a strategic step forward in supporting water-industry companies seeking reliable and efficient access to both the European/UK and Korean markets. It underscores the importance of stronger international alignment in drinking water compliance, benefiting public health, sustainability, and innovation worldwide.

The agreement sets out the intention of Kiwa and KWTC to further develop cooperation that supports market access for both Korean companies seeking entry to the European and UK markets, and European and UK manufacturers aiming to comply with Korean regulations, including KC certification. Kiwa is already supporting several European producers in meeting Korean compliance requirements.

Advancing shared expertise across regulatory frameworks

The MoU outlines indicative areas of cooperation, subject to mutual agreement, including the exchange of technical and regulatory expertise related to drinking water legislation and certification schemes in both regions. This includes European frameworks such as the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), EU materials and hygiene requirements, KUK Water Regulation 4 , BS 6920 and related standards, as well as Korean certification systems including KC.

In addition, Kiwa and KWTC intend to cooperate on the timely exchange of regulatory updates and technical resources, certification and technical services for the water industry, and advisory support for certification strategies. The collaboration also foresees joint activities such as seminars, workshops and technical briefings to support knowledge sharing on drinking water regulations and certification systems in Europe and Korea.

Signing ceremony and industry presentations

KWTC was represented at the signing by Jacob An, Director Planning and Management Department, Strategy Planning Division, and Dr. Cheol Woong Kim, Deputy General Manager. Suni Lee, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, was also present. Kiwa was represented by Marco van Brink, Global Business Manager Water.

Following the signing ceremony, expert presentations were delivered on key regulatory developments. Such as on the revised European Drinking Water Directive and EU Materials and Hygiene Regulations (EU-MHR) by Dietmar Altemeier, Kiwa, and on UK Water Regulation 4 by Jonathan Price, International Development Manager at Kiwa. The perspective of the European water industry on upcoming regulatory developments was provided by Volker Meyer, Managing Director of FIGAWA and President of the European Drinking Water (EDW) association.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of several Korean companies and was positively received. According to Jacob An, “This MoU provides a solid foundation for future cooperation between our organizations, supporting Korean companies in accessing the EU and UK markets.” Marco van Brink added that the MoU confirms the cooperation already established over recent years and creates additional opportunities for further collaboration.

Services for the water sector, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of safe, healthy (drinking) water for industrial and domestic use.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. Ensuring the quality of materials and products that come into contact with drinking water is of utmost importance. The Drinking Water Directive (DWD) plays a crucial role in establishing the standards and regulations necessary to safeguard the quality of drinking water throughout the European Union. In recent years, significant changes have been made to the DWD, including requirements for products and materials in contact with drinking water.