![NSF, CE, ETL & UL Certifications for Restaurants Explained](http://www.cityfoodequipment.com/cdn/shop/articles/Certifications_b5d12677-8347-4129-ad6c-bc84125bd489_1800x627_crop_center.gif?v=1739285494)
NSF, CE, ETL & UL Certifications for Restaurants Explained
Updated 2/5/2025
If you are a restaurant owner or manager, you may have noticed that some of the restaurant equipment you use or buy has certain certifications on it.
These certifications, such as NSF, CE, ETL, and UL, are not just random letters. They are important indicators of the equipment's safety, sanitation, and quality.
In this blog post, we will explain what each certification means and why it is important for restaurants.
NSF Certification
NSF stands for National Sanitation Foundation International, a nonprofit organization that develops and maintains public health standards and certification programs for restaurant equipment.
NSF-certified restaurant equipment has been tested to ensure that it protects food quality and safety when in use and that it does not leach harmful chemicals into food.
NSF-certified equipment is also easy to clean and maintain, which helps prevent foodborne illness and improve health inspection scores.
NSF certification is widely recognized and accepted by health authorities and regulators around the world.
CE Certification
CE stands for Conformité Européenne, which translates to "European Conformity" in French. CE is a mark that indicates that a piece of equipment conforms to the safety, health, and environmental protection standards set by the European Union.
CE certification is mandatory for certain products to be sold across the 30 countries in the European Economic Area.
CE certification ensures that the equipment is safe for operators and consumers and that it complies with the EU's environmental regulations.
ETL Certification
ETL stands for Electrical Testing Laboratories, a name that was originally used by a testing laboratory founded by Thomas Edison in 1896.
Today, ETL is a mark used by Intertek, one of the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification companies.
ETL-certified equipment meets North American safety standards for electrical and gas-fired appliances.
ETL certification also verifies that the equipment has passed rigorous performance and reliability tests.
UL Certification
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, another safety science company that tests thousands of consumer and commercial products each year for electrical safety and design quality.
UL-certified equipment meets the standards of soundness of design, electrical safety, and structural integrity set by UL.
UL also has a sanitation classification that is similar to NSF's. UL sanitation-certified equipment means that it complies with the ANSI/NSF regulations for food service equipment.