History

Established in 1928, NITE originally served as the “Export Silk Fabrics Inspection Institute”, and conducted quality inspections of silk textiles. Inspection facilities for various industrial products were also established later. In the 1970s, we began work related to product safety and work based on the Industrial Standardization Act. In the 1980s, we began handling safety assessments of chemical substances. In the 1990s, we entered the field of biotechnology and also began work as accreditation body, accreditating conformity assesment bodies. In October 1995, we were reorganized as the “National Institute of Technology and Evaluation”. In April 2001, we became the Incorporated Administrative Agency “National Institute of Technology and Evaluation”—NITE—under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) jurisdiction. We continue to leverage the technology and know-how we have accumulated since our establishment—such as for inspections and evaluations of industrial products—and smoothly respond to changes in policy needs and social needs and contribute to spur the development of Japanese industries and a safer society.