AGI Media's Slough operation and Loveurope's headquarters in Goswell Road, London, were tested by Fogra UK partners City & West End Solutions (CWES) and Bodoni Systems respectively.

Loveurope group colour manager Ian Nunn said it was important to be able to demonstrate to potential clients that your colour management knowledge is up to date.

He added that, while Fogra certification was "much bigger in Germany", it was "still gaining pace" in the UK, though it was not instantly recognisable to all buyers.

AGI, which is part of the Meadwestvaco (MWV) Group and already accredited to the ISO 12647-7 standard for closed-loop colour, stressed the importance of accurate colour reproduction in the packaging sector.

Andy Watts, general manager at AGI Media, said: "We pride ourselves on producing premium packaging and
have embraced standardisation and critical process control to ensure quality and predictable, consistent and repeatable colour results to help build and protect our customers' brands."

Meanwhile, Print and Media Certification (PMC) is getting closer to its goal of offering printers ISO 12647 certification that has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

PMC, which has criticised the Fogra scheme in the past for lacking the accreditation of a national body, is currently waiting for the BPIF to finalise its requirements for ISO 12647 certification.

PMC director Jon Stack said: "We're already in discussions with UKAS about our accreditation, but we're still awaiting publication by the BPIF of its scheme.

"We will be looking to issue the first accredited certificates before the year's end."