EFSIS, the global food inspection and certification specialist, has been acquired by SAI Global Group, 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 December 21 and takes effect immediately.

The company said EFSIS is now the global food division of SAI Global, enhancing EFSIS’ worldwide coverage of the food inspection and certification market, by adding 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.

Managing director of EFSIS, Mark Proctor, said: “Our 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 is well equipped to make EFSIS the international market leader in food inspection and certification.”

Ross Waight, chief executive of SAI Global, 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.”