DKSH Entered a New Partnership to Deliver Food Safety Testing Solutions in Japan

DKSH has signed a distribution agreement to provide advanced microbial detection solutions for the food and pharmaceutical industries in Japan. Building on the existing collaboration in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, DKSH will further leverage its partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific and contribute to safety and operational efficiency in Japan’s food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Tokyo, Japan, January 8, 2026 - DKSH Business Unit Technology has entered into a partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a global leader in scientific solutions, to distribute its range of rapid microbial detection products in the Japanese market. This collaboration marks an extension to the existing successful partnership in Asia.

Under this agreement, DKSH will introduce Thermo Fisher’s SureTect™ rapid pathogen detection kits for food safety testing and sterile media solutions such as “Triple Wrap” for confirming aseptic conditions in cleanrooms. These solutions enable faster and more reliable pathogen testing, supporting improved safety and operational efficiency in Japan’s food and pharmaceutical sectors.
 

Meeting the Growing Demand for Rapid Testing
In the context of public awareness of food safety, production lines in food and beverage plants in Japan have accelerated, whereas traditional microbiological tests still require incubation times, creating a bottleneck in the manufacturing process. Rapid testing technologies are now gaining attention as a means to provide a solution to this matter.
  
The full enforcement of HACCP  (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) in 2021 has also led to a significant increase in testing frequency, especially among small and medium-sized food manufacturers. This has highlighted challenges related to manpower and operational burden with conventional methods. Easy-to-use systems such as SureTect™ can help maintain consistent quality control even in environments facing technician shortages.
  
The need for stricter and faster microbiological testing; quicker release for products with short shelf lives and therefore higher risk of microbial contamination such as ready-to-eat meals, chilled foods, or prepared bakery items; and reduction of food waste and inventory optimization has become increasingly evident, further accelerating the adoption of rapid testing solutions.
   
Traditionally, some food manufacturers outsourced microbiological testing, which extended lead times and delayed shipping decisions. With SureTect™, companies can achieve same-day or next-day results in-house, shortening release lead times and improving operational efficiency. SureTect™ is certified by ISO 16140, AOAC, and AFNOR, ensuring compliance with international quality standards and reliability for global markets.
  
Yasuo Hayashi, President & Representative Director, DKSH Market Expansion Service Japan K.K.  commented : “Our partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific reinforces DKSH’s commitment to enriching lives by delivering solutions that make food safer and operations more efficient. By introducing SureTect™ rapid pathogen detection kits, we help manufacturers in Japan achieve faster, reliable results and uphold the highest standards of quality”
   
DKSH, in collaboration with Thermo Fisher, will continue promoting the adoption of rapid testing solutions in Japan’s food industry and contribute to enhancing safety and operational efficiency.