MC Consulting S.p.A. MC is a management consultancy company under wholly Italian management which has been in the market for about 20 years, composed of 5 partners and about 120 employees based in offices in Rome, Milan, Padua and Caltanissetta. The company is subdivided into 5 sections: Consumer Goods & Retail, Automotive, Finance, Utilities & Public Administration, and operates in the following areas: organisation, performance control, strategy and marketing.

DNV-Det Nerske Veritas A Norwegian certification authority, independent international non-profit making foundation which has operated in 100 countries throughout the world since 1864 safeguarding life, property and the environment. In Italy since 1962, it is the leading Italian company in the certification sector, active throughout Italy with 10 operational offices and 180 employees.

Sincert. National Authority for the Accreditation of Certifying Organisations. A non-profit making organisation established in 1991, legally recognised in Italy under regulation DM 16.061995. It contributes to the management of the Italian System for Quality, checking and proving professional skills, rules of procedure, impartiality and integrity of the organisations which carry out evaluation work in accordance with the Norms and Technical Regulations governing products, services, systems, procedures and people.

UNI. The National Italian Board of Unification. A non-profit making organisation established in 1921, carrying out regulatory activities in the following sectors: industrial, commercial and service industry excluding electric and electrotechnical. The rôle of a national regulatory organisation is recognised by European Directive 83/189/CEE of 1983, assimilated by Italy with Law 317 of 21.06.1986. UNI participates in the activities of multinational regulatory organisations: ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) and CEN (European Regulatory Committee).

CERTIQUALITY A non-profit making body founded in Milan in 1989 on the initiative of Federchimica, Assolombarda and other high-ranking bodies. It is accredited to certify systems of company management for quality, environment, security and product certification. It operates throughout Italy via a network of more than 300 inspectors. It has certified more than 6000 companies throughout the world and belongs to IQnet, the network which brings together the most important certification organisations of 35 countries.