The International Food Standard (IFS) is one the most common food safety standards assessing and evaluating food suppliers on food safety, using consistent evaluation. IFS certification helps retailers ensure the safety of their food products effectively, as well as to systematically monitor the standard of production of in-house brand food products.

For suppliers, having to undergo one single IFS certification to demonstrate compliance takes away the hassle of running multiple second-party audits, allowing them to be more attentive to manufacturing and improving productivity. 

IFS Food Version 8 

Effective since April 2023 and mandatory since January 2024, Version 8 has been developed with the input of experts and key stakeholders from food suppliers, retailers and certification bodies. This version has been made easier and better structured, more efficient and more practical for auditors and companies to work with. 

Key changes in IFS Food Version 8 include: 

• Updated Codex Alimentarius General principles of hygiene
• Alignment with new ISO 22003-2
• Food safety culture implementation has now objective requirement
• Revised scoring system, especially B scoring
• Mandatory unannounced audits and counting details 
  
  

Requirements of IFS food 

IFS Food is a world standard for assessing product and process compliance in reference to food safety and quality. 

The IFS Food standard applies to suppliers in the last steps of food processing after the agricultural stage. IFS Foods requirements are associated with the standard management system, namely the HACCP system (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points), supported by detailed prerequisite programmes that include GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GHP (Good Hygiene Practice) requirements.
 

IFS Certification process  

Usually, there are four steps in the IFS certification and each company should undergo the certification every year. 

IFS Certification step 1: 

• Submit application form to any IFS Certification Body. Eurofins Food Assurance is an approved Certification Body. You can contact us anytime!
• Confirm quotation and scope. 

IFS Certification step 2: 

• Schedule audit
• Conduct on-site audit  
• Post audit, close any findings/ non-conformances 

IFS Certification step 3: 

Review audit file.

IFS Certification step 4: 

Issue IFS Certificate. 

While IFS certification is a golden ticket for trading with retailers, it's also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your commitment to food safety, quality, and legality, and to support continual improvement. 

Benefits of being an IFS-certified company 

For retailers, a single IFS certification that is trusted by both the retailers and suppliers allows more consistent and efficient supply chain management. For suppliers, a single certification scheme reduces the general costs of compliance fulfillment, benefitting practitioners, workers, and consumers. 

There are also a couple of mutual benefits in adopting IFS Certification:

• Provide evidence of commitment and compliance on food safety to existing and potential food buyers
• Build and operate a robust management system to fulfill food safety requirement and regulatory requirements effectively, in particular for countries where the finished food products are consumed  
• Establish a tool for food safety performance monitoring and benchmarking so as to drive improvement continuously and efficiently 
• Facilitate reductions in product waste, product reworking, and merchandise recall and thereby raise productivity and margin 
  
  

Why choose Eurofins Food Assurance?

The Eurofins Assurance network of companies is a IFS approved Certification Body. We are committed to provide a five-star experience throughout the entire IFS certification process with our excellent customer service and in-depth certification knowledge. 

Partner with us on your IFS Certification for:

• High quality on audit reports
• Stringent compliance to protocols
• Robust experience and competences of auditors 
• Reliable turnaround time  
• Customer-centric attitude

Send us an enquiry about your next IFS certification anytime!