IFS or BRC in the food industry – which standard to choose?

Food producers are increasingly faced with the question: IFS or BRC? Both standards are recognised by the GFSI, both require the implementation of HACCP and a quality management system, and both open up access to retail chains. However, there are differences – and these have practical implications for the choice of certification path. Below, we outline the key criteria that should determine your choice.

Geography and market requirements

This is the most important selection criterion in practice. Both standards are recognised globally, but their geographical dominance differs significantly.

BRC / BRCGS Food Safety is the standard preferred by retail chains in Anglo-Saxon markets – in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada and Australia. It was established on the initiative of the British Retail Consortium and, from the outset, served as a tool for British retailers to assess their suppliers. For companies exporting to the UK or working with global Anglo-Saxon brands, BRCGS certification is, in practice, a prerequisite.

IFS Food dominates the markets of continental Europe – primarily in Germany, France, Italy and the Benelux countries. Chains such as Lidl, Kaufland, Aldi, Carrefour and Leclerc require it from their suppliers as a standard qualification criterion. For Polish manufacturers exporting to Germany or France, IFS Food is usually the first and fundamental requirement.

Companies operating in both markets simultaneously often need to hold both certificates. In such cases, it is advisable to schedule audits around the same time – the substantive scope of both standards is sufficiently similar that a well-prepared management system meets the requirements of both without the need for duplicated work.

Differences in structure and the assessment system

Despite having a similar scope in terms of content, the two standards differ in several areas that are of operational significance.

The assessment system is the most obvious difference. BRCGS uses a letter grading system – a site is awarded a grade of AA, A, B or C depending on the number and severity of non-conformities identified during the audit. IFS Food operates a points-based system: the auditor assesses each of the 234 requirements on a scale of A/B/C/D, and the final result is expressed as a percentage. The basic level requires a minimum of 75 per cent of the points, whilst the higher level requires 95 per cent. The IFS system provides retail chain clients with a more granular picture of the maturity of a supplier’s system and makes it easier to compare results across different facilities.

KO (Knock Out) requirements are a distinctive feature of IFS. These are a set of critical requirements; failure to meet them automatically terminates the audit – regardless of the results in other areas. The BRCGS operates a similar mechanism of fundamental requirements, the breach of which results in a grade of C or lower and the need for a re-audit; however, the audit itself is not terminated midway.

The focus on both the product and the process is more pronounced in IFS Food – the standard explicitly assesses both the product and the production process as equally important audit subjects. BRCGS places slightly greater emphasis on systemic management and documentation, although this difference is becoming less pronounced with each successive revision of both standards.

The frequency of unannounced audits is similar in both systems – at least one in every three audits must be carried out unannounced. In IFS, the certificate is marked with an asterisk confirming the unannounced nature of the audit, which is increasingly required by retail chains as part of their supplier verification process.

Which standard to choose – practical tips

The choice between IFS and BRC is best based on three questions:

1. Where do you sell or wish to sell? If your target markets are Germany, France or continental Europe – IFS Food. If the UK, the US or Anglo-Saxon markets – BRCGS. If both – it is worth considering parallel certification, scheduling audits close together.
2. What does your current or target customer require? In most cases, it is the retail chain that specifies a particular standard as a condition of business. If one customer requires IFS and another BRC – both certificates are necessary. If the customer accepts both, the decision may be dictated by costs or the facility’s previous experience with a particular system.
3. Do you already have another system in place? A facility holding ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 certification is well-prepared for both standards. A facility with experience in IFS v7 will transition smoothly to v8. A facility starting from scratch should choose the standard required by its key client and build a system tailored to that single objective – extending it to include the second standard will then be much simpler.

Not sure which standard would be best for your organisation? Get in touch with us – we’ll help you choose the right solution and prepare your company for IFS or BRC certification.