Inspection and certification specialist EFSIS is expanding into Scandinavia as part of its global roll out.

Sweden's SIK AB has joined forces with the world food safety mammoth to form new concern EFSIS Scandinavia.

Based in Gothenburg, the new body will become a strategic organisation for north east Europe, covering Scandinavia - Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Sweden and the Faroe Islands - as well as the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

EFSIS director David Rose was looking forward to the changes.

He said: 'We have seen record growth over the last 12 months as worldwide retailer demand for supplier inspections has reached an all time high. This latest venture joins EFSIS Spain, Germany and Hungary - providing as comprehensive inspection service in their own language, which we have found is being well received by our European clients.' EFSIS chiefs say the body is well placed to provide the full portfolio of services to the Scandinavian and Baltic food sector, boasting as it does UKAS accreditation on EN45004 and EN45011 as well as specialist training in HACCP and ISO9000 audits.

'We are in no doubt we can maintain our leading position in the international food safety arena,' said Rose.