What is it?

IFS (International Food Standard) is an international standard for food safety. It is a standard that sets out uniform requirements to ensure high food quality and safety. It enables an objective assessment of food industry companies in terms of food safety. Obtaining IFS certification involves meeting a number of requirements. To meet the requirements of the IFS standard, an organisation should:

• Establish a Quality Management System and implement the BRC and SQF schemes;
• Meet the requirements set out in the Codex Alimentarius;
• Identify the legal requirements applicable to its operations;
• Demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the HACCP system, as well as GMP and GHP;
• Possess a European Quality System.

The IFS certificate is recognised by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), which offers opportunities to expand one’s business network. Many companies in the food industry require their suppliers to hold a certificate recognised by the GFSI. Holding an IFS certificate demonstrates to customers that the organisation has established an appropriate system to ensure food safety.

Who is it for?

There are various IFS standards. These reflect the scope of a company’s operations. Their aim is to monitor manufacturers, logistics companies, brokers and agents. The aim is to ensure that these companies are capable of producing and handling safe products.

IFS Food applies to organisations where the product is processed, treated or packaged.

The current version of IFS Food is version 8.

IFS Logistics covers logistics activities, including distribution, warehousing, storage, loading and unloading, and transport. It applies to both pre-packaged and unpackaged products.

The current version of IFS Logistics is version 2.3.

IFS Broker applies to organisations primarily engaged in commercial activities, acting as intermediaries in the exchange of goods. The standard aims to verify whether brokers/importers have taken appropriate steps to ensure that their suppliers meet food safety requirements.

The current version of IFS Broker is version 3.1.

IFS HPC is a standard designed for manufacturers of non-food products.

It covers four product groups:

• cosmetics and personal care products,
• household and car care products, including air fresheners and scented candles,
• products intended to come into contact with food (e.g. plastic cutlery)
• products intended for personal hygiene, excluding cosmetic products.

The current version of IFS HPC is version 3 of the standard.

Benefits:

• Increased customer satisfaction;
• Attracting new customers (many organisations work exclusively with companies holding GFSI-recognised certificates);
• Compliance with international requirements;
• Bringing safe, high-quality food to market;
• Streamlining processes within the organisation;
• Reducing the risk of penalties for non-compliance.