Ningbo Donghai Group receives the "Zhejiang Made" authentication certificate from the provincial government and France's Bureau Veritas in Yiwu on Oct 21. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo Donghai Group's Belgium plant was awarded the "Zhejiang Made" authentication certificate on Oct 21 in Yiwu, becoming the first overseas branch of a Zhejiang company to receive the honor.

Michel Toiremol, general manager of Ningbo Donghai's Belgium plant, said the "Zhejiang Made" authentication is held in high regard around the world and represents standards that he believes will improve the quality of the company's water meters.

Specializing in water meters for over 40 years, Ningbo Donghai is now the main producer of gas, water and heat meters in China. In 2011, Donghai set up a research and development center and a production plant in Belgium to produce smart meters according to European Union standards.

At the beginning of this month, the plant was inspected by France's Bureau Veritas, a testing, inspection and certification services supplier and also a member of the "Zhejiang Made" authentication alliance. The plant was approved by European inspectors in mid-October.

An European inspector checks the products of the Belgium plant of Ningbo Donghai Group. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]