The Cognis esterification plant at the Nutrition & Health Competence Center in Illertissen, Germany, has received the internationally renowned certificate of quality ISO 22000:2005 from the certification body DQS GmbH. The worldwide standard for food safety places rigorous demands on all process levels and along the whole chain of food production – from choosing raw materials and producing ingredients to manufacturing consumer products. Cognis is one of the first German companies to receive this certificate.

Consumers all over the world expect food to be of high quality and safe. ISO 22000:2005 is a globally harmonized and recognized standard for management systems to ensure food safety. Cognis has established such a system at its production site in Illertissen, Bavaria. The certificate now issued confirms that all products which are manufactured, filled, and globally marketed meet the quality and safety requirements of the standard. These products include Vegapure® (sterol esters), Tonalin® (conjugated linoleic acid), Omevital® (omega-3 fish oils), Delios® (MCT oils) and special triglycerides for use in the segments functional food (dairy products, margarine, and beverages) and dietary supplements.

Gerhard Lobmaier, Vice President Nutrition & Health Europe, explains: “Our new management system for food safety complements our existing systems for quality and environmental management perfectly. For our customers all over the world, this successful certification is a further proof that our products meet the highest quality standards.”

DQS confirmed that Cognis has implemented the requirements of ISO 22000:2005 on an above-average level. “To meet these standards Cognis has appointed a food safety team combining competencies in quality management, microbiology, food technology, food law, chemistry, and engineering,” says Andreas Heidbreder, Site Manager Cognis Illertissen. The team is responsible for monitoring processes and products and for ensuring that all products are manufactured in observance of the safety standards and specifications. Additionally, a preventive HACCP system (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points) was implemented to analyze and eliminate possible causes of health risks from the complete production to the point of transportation.

Cognis Nutrition & Health is the company’s strategic business unit specializing in food ingredients. It maintains a production site in Illertissen, Bavaria, for emulsifiers, plant sterol esters, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The international Competence Center Nutrition & Health is also located in Illertissen. In 2007, the esterification plants were expanded with a ten million euro investment.

About Cognis
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 7,600 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, as well as agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2007, Cognis recorded sales of about 3.52 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (operating result) of 410 million euros.