With the IFS Food certificate, food processing and packaging companies ensure the high quality and safety of their processes and products. The certificate is internationally recognized and strengthens stakeholders' confidence in food products.
The IFS Food standard was developed by key players in food trade, the food industry, the catering sector and certification bodies. The aim of the standard is safe and high-quality food. The IFS Food certificate is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative and is valid worldwide.
The focus of IFS Food certification is quality assurance in the processing and packaging of food and in related processes. Thanks to certified safety and quality, companies strengthen their products and brands.
The standard applies wherever the risk of food contamination can be prevented, for example in cases of inadequate hygiene or product quality. IFS Food therefore primarily targets the primary packaging of food.
For marketing and production departments, the IFS Food standard is highly important for demonstrating quality and brand safety.
Other Benefits Associated with the Food Safety and Quality Standard
- IFS Food provides a uniform assessment system for safety and quality.
- IFS Food certification is carried out only by accredited certification bodies
- IFS Food provides greater transparency throughout the supply and production chain.
- Thanks to IFS Food certified processes, it saves time and costs for suppliers and retailers.
IFS — frequently asked questions
What Is the IFS Food Standard?
The IFS Food standard is a standard recognized on behalf of food manufacturers through the review of the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative). Its focus is on food safety, its stages and product efficiency. It is relevant to food processing companies and companies that pack loose food products. The standard is important for all food manufacturers, especially those producing private labels, because contamination of the product poses a threat when products are processed or during primary packaging, and because it contains multiple requirements relevant to customer conditions. The standard supports production and marketing units in their efforts toward brand safety and efficiency. IFS Food was developed with the efficient and full participation of certification bodies, retailers, the food industry and food service companies.
Why the IFS Certificate?
Organizations such as HDE, FDE, Conad and COOP, among the largest food associations in the world, make the IFS certificate mandatory for their suppliers. Giant consortia that are members of these food associations, such as chain supermarkets Edeka, Rewe, Aldi and Metro, also require this standard from their suppliers.
International Validity of the IFS Standard
The IFS certificate, like other food safety standards such as HACCP, SQF, GFSI and BRC, is a standard accepted worldwide.
Who Is the IFS Certification Audit Valid For?
All companies, from food retail to wholesalers, can be subject to the IFS certificate standard.
IFS Audit Processes
Certification decisions are made in line with the audit reports and with the conditions and scoring of the certification section of the IFS Audit Protocol.
During the audit process, the auditor approves the action plan and then forwards the completed action plan to the Certification Team. The team reviews the following information:
- The auditor's notes taken during the audit
- The final report
- The completed action plan
At the end of the audit process, companies / clients are given an action plan document. The action plan document contains the following details:
- IFS Requirement Number
- IFS Requirement
- Deviation / Nonconformity Level (B, C, D, Major or KO)
- Deviation / Nonconformity Details
When a nonconformity arises, companies / clients complete the following sections of the action plan and return it to the auditor for approval:
- Corrective step to be taken by the company
- Responsible Person / Date / Implementation Status
When the certification process is complete, the report of the company that will receive the IFS Food certificate, its action plan and details of its certification status are uploaded to the IFS Portal. After this process is completed, a user name and password are sent to the nominated representative. This provides access to the uploaded documents. Companies can follow ongoing processes through this portal. The company representative can download the report for distribution to relevant parties, and can also download a copy of the IFS logo after accepting the conditions required for its use.
