IFS

What is it?

The IFS (International Food Standard) is a scheme promoted by the food distributor associations of Germany (HDE), France (FCD) and Italy (Federdistribuzione), although since its set up in 2003, the IFS standard has become an internationally accepted standard. 

This standard gives own brand – or private label – manufacturers, and the retailers themselves, a scheme to face the increase in the legal responsibilities and food safety of products. In addition, when dealing with own brand products, the consumer has the perception that the distributor is the producer of the product, which requires a scheme that provides extra confidence.

To better adapt itself to the different types of organisations that make up the food supply chain, IFS has developed several schemes:

• IFS Food is a standard for the auditing of companies that process food or companies that pack loose food products. IFS Food is only applied where the product is "processed or handled", or if there is a danger of product contamination during the primary packaging.
• The IFS Global Markets - Food is a standardised food safety assessment program for retailers as well as industry branded food products. The program is meant to support “small and/or less developed businesses” in the development of their food safety management systems and making the first step towards the implementation of the IFS Food Standard.
• IFS HPC is the standard to ensure product safety, to reduce costs, and to ensure transparency concerning the entire production chain of household and personal care products.
• The IFS Global Markets - HPC is a standardized non-food safety assessment program for retailers as well as manufacturers of branded HPC products. The program is meant to support “small and/or less developed businesses” in the development of their product safety management systems and making the first step towards the implementation of the IFS HPC Standard.
• The IFS Wholesale/Cash & Carry standard was developed to optimize the audit procedures of wholesalers and cash & carry markets. These two distinct types of businesses are seen as important connectors between producers and converters as well as commercial clients. Besides a wide range of traded products, they can also carry out certain treatment and/or processing activities and develop own brands. Depending on the core business of the company, a taylor made checklist applies, either for Wholesale or Cash & Carry.
• IFS Logistics is applicable to both food and non-food products and covers all logistics activities, such as loading, unloading, and transportation. The standard can be applied to all sorts of transportation; heavy goods vehicles, trains, ships, aeroplanes, and every other type of transport (temperature controlled or at room temperature).
• The IFS Global Markets - Logistics program’s objective is to facilitate market access locally, create mutual acceptance along the supply chain, and provide a framework for mentoring, developing, and assessing small and less developed logistics service providers. These companies might encounter difficulties in implementing efficient product safety and quality processes, due to their size, lack of technical expertise or economic resources. The program includes a protocol to drive incrementally the continuous improvement process in logistics safety management systems. It offers a flexible application of the stepwise approach in sense of time, starting level, and final level to achieve. Moreover, the IFS Global Markets – Logistics offers a good opportunity to make first steps towards a full IFS Logistics certification.
• IFS Brokers must be applied to all companies primarily involved in "trading activities“ and who themselves choose their suppliers, purchase or trade in the goods from them themselves and then have deliveries made directly to their own customers, charging these customers for such goods directly, without themselves ever having come into contract with the product.
• IFS PACsecure is a standard for auditing primary and secondary packaging material manufacturers and converters.
• The goal of the IFS Food Store standard is to measure the evaluation of food safety of food products at various stores, in reference to the Best Hygiene Practices of the profession, to the requirements of the current regulations in each country, and to the health control plans of the retailers. The results of IFS Food Store inspections also enable the various stores and retailers to implement suitable plans for action and improvement, aimed to increase the level of food safety for consumers.

Legal framework

• IFS