Certification must be carried out by an accredited certification body that guarantees independence, technical competence, and compliance with the IFS scheme.
IFS Food certificationhas become a key requirement for companies in the food industry that want to guarantee the safety, quality, and legality of their products, as well as meet the demands of distributors and international markets.
IFS(International Featured Standards )FOOD is one of the most globally recognized standards within the schemes approved by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and is aimed at food manufacturers that carry out processing, packaging, or primary handling.
IFS Food certificationallows organizations to demonstrate that their management systems comply with strict and consistent food safety requirements.
In this article, we explainwhat IFS Food is, how theIFS standard works, thedifferences between IFS Food and BRCGS, and how to correctly approach theimplementation and certification process.
IFS Food isan international standard developed in 2003 with the aim of assessing the ability of food manufacturers to produce safe, legal, and quality products in accordance with legal requirements and customer specifications.
For many companies,IFS Food certificationis not only a tool for internal improvement, but also anessential requirementfor working with large distribution chains, both nationally and internationally.
IFS Food certification is primarily aimed at:
Activities that are exclusively logistical or commercial in nature are outside the scope of IFS Food, as they have specific standards such as IFS Logistics or IFS Broker.
TheIFS Food standardis structured around a series of requirements that comprehensively evaluate the company's management system and its actual implementation in the plant. Key aspects that are audited include:
The current version isIFS Food v8, mandatory since January 2024, which reinforces aspects such as complaint management, food safety culture, and control of outsourced processes.
The IFS Food certification process is clearly defined and follows a structured sequence:
1. Request and definition of scope: The company defines the scope of the audit together with the certification body: products, processes, production lines, and possible subcontracting.
2. Registration on the IFS portal: Once the application has been accepted, the company is registered in the official IFS database, where it is assigned an identification code (COID).
3. Certification audit: The IFS Food audit is always conducted on-site and may be:
During the audit, both the documentation systems and their actual application in the plant are evaluated.
4. Plan for corrections and corrective actions: In the event of deviations or non-conformities, the company must submit a corrective action plan with evidence within the established deadlines.
5. Technical review and certification decision: The certifying body reviews all documentation and issues the final decision on whether to grant the certificate.
6. Issuance of the IFS Food certificate: The certificate is valid for 12 months and must be renewed through annual recertification audits.
One of the most common questions in the food industry is the choice between IFS Food or BRCGS. Both standards are recognized by GFSI, but there are some significant differences between them:
The choice between one or the other will depend mainly on the customer requirements, the target market, and the company's business strategy.
Beyond regulatory compliance, the implementation and certification of IFS Foodbrings multiple operational and strategic advantages and benefits in the medium and long term:
In addition, the audit process allows for the identification of opportunities for improvement that directly impact operational efficiency.
As an accredited certification body, ACERTA provides IFS Food certification in accordance with the current version of the standard and the official requirements of the scheme.
ACERTA guarantees a rigorous, independent, and technically sound certification process, from the initial application to the issuance of the certificate, ensuring regulatory compliance and the correct evaluation of the company's management system.
If your company needs to obtain or renew the IFS Food certificate, you can request information or a quote through ACERTA and count on an entity with extensive experience in certification for the food industry.
It is not required by law, but it is often a requirement demanded by large distribution chains and customers to guarantee the safety and quality of products.
The IFS certificate Food certificate is valid for 12 months and must be renewed through an annual recertification audit.
IFS Food is a GFSI-recognized standard aimed at manufacturers, with a very detailed focus on production processes, HACCP, and legal requirements, and with a specific scoring system.
Yes. The standard requires that at least one in three certification audits be unannounced, as a measure to reinforce the reliability of the system.
The company must submit a corrective action plan with evidence within the established deadlines before the certificate is issued.
Certification must be carried out by an accredited certification body that guarantees independence, technical competence, and compliance with the IFS scheme.
