IFS Food 8 audits now mandatory!
Progress for our development programs
IFS Progress
IFS Progress
Actively developing
product safety and
quality processes
Discover what’s new in
IFS Broker version 3.2
IFS PACsecure 3 – tailor-made for the packaging industry
New IFS Food 8 Doctrine & Audit Checklist Guideline
New IFS Food 8 Doctrine
& Audit Checklist Guideline
IFS Food 8 audits now mandatory!
IFS Food 8
audits are now mandatory!
Progress for our development programs
Progress for
our development
programs
IFS Logistics version 3 is now available!
IFS Logistics version 3
is now available!
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About IFS

IFS develops globally recognised product quality and safety standards and development programs with the expertise of retailers, manufacturers, certification bodies and other experts. With our help, companies increase the trustworthiness of their products and brands through a practised product and food safety culture.

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2002
Foundation of IFS
> 40
Employees worldwide
2000+
Retail Accounts
> 30000
Certificates & LoCs

Quality Assurance and Integrity Program

The IFS Integrity Program ensures that our standards are properly implemented.

This is guaranteed by:

  • Integrity on-site checks,
  • Integrity witness audits,
  • and CB office audits.

In case of complaints, it is possible to reach IFS IP via the complaint-form or e-mail.

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Accreditation & Recognition

With the accreditation of the certification bodies working with us and the IFS Standards, we ensure that our work is based on uniform international norms and thus on objectively verifiable quality standards. For us, accreditation means security and trust in our products.

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Sustainability / ESG

Making processes, structures, and business models more sustainable is a constant challenge for many companies. To help especially small and medium-sized companies integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, IFS offers the ESG Check. With this tool, we support you on your way to a greener and more socially responsible future.

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Product integrity / PIA

Ensure product integrity with IFS. We help you better understand and control risks relating to product integrity and food fraud. With our IFS PIA Assessment, you show your customer that you deliver products to specifications and manage your integrity risks properly.

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IFS News

IFS Progress – Actively developing product safety and quality processes

 It is now official: IFS Progress is the new brand name of our supplier development programs. The new name replaces IFS Global Markets, which will be phased out on 14 May 2024. 

Since 2014, our development programs have been enabling suppliers to establish and develop appropriate processes to manage their product safety and quality. These programs are built on standardised requirements and structured in two levels. They help suppliers progress towards IFS Certification. IFS offers Progress Programs for suppliers of food products, logistics services, packaging materials and household and personal care (HPC) products. 

IFS Progress represents the active approach of the development programs

The new name, IFS Progress, fits perfectly with our understanding that our development programs, and just like our standards, help suppliers to continuously monitor, build, update and improve their products and processes to deliver safe, quality products that customers and consumers can trust. 

With this brand name, we are emphasising the active approach and aim of the programs while their content remains the same. It stands for: 

  • Progressing within the current program level 
  • Progressing from level to level 
  • Progressing towards IFS Certification 

Suppliers assessed to IFS Progress achieve the prerequisites for operating, growing, and developing steadily in a regional, national, and international environment and be accepted as trusted business partners.

New name, new logos, same program content 

The content of the development programs remains unchanged, and they stay in their current versions: IFS Progress Food version 3, IFS Progress Logistics version 1, IFS Progress PACsecure version 1 and IFS Progress HPC version 1. We have updated the logos, the program protocols, and other relevant documents with the new brand name. 

Assessed businesses, certification bodies, assessment services providers and our other stakeholders will have sufficient time to integrate the name IFS Progress into their corporate processes and communication. Until 14 May 2024, IFS Global Markets may still be applied. We at IFS are using this transition period to update documents, IT tools, and training materials. 

You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions in our fact sheet. Download it here in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese or Turkish.

Let’s work together for product and food safety 

The IFS Progress Programs are an essential stepping stone in the gradual development of robust processes for food and product safety of assessed suppliers. The assessment helps to build trust in supply chains. IFS offers tools, guidelines, and support so suppliers can reach their goals. Achieving those goals is a joint effort of everyone involved. 

Let's work together to make food and products safer and support the continuous development and progress in this area!

 

For more information about the IFS Progress Programs, the roadmap to the assessment and the support IFS offers, please visit the program webpages: 

IFS Progress Food

IFS Progress HPC

IFS Progress Logistics

IFS Progress PACsecure


Discover what’s new in IFS Broker version 3.2

 

We have updated the IFS Broker Standard and are thrilled to introduce version 3.2 today. Audits to this new version will become mandatory from 1 July 2024.

More transparency through the IFS Star Status and updated Scoring System

In IFS Broker 3.2, we introduce the star status, signaling that an audit was unannounced. Also, you will find updates in the scoring system. In particular, the B-score is now a deviation again, requiring a correction or corrective action. 

These updates contribute to greater transparency as customers and other stakeholders of the audited company can easily recognise how the audit was carried out. Furthermore, the report shows which deviation led to the B-score and the action plan specifies what needs to be done to correct the deviation. This creates greater clarity for everyone involved.

The update facilitates combined audits 

As many IFS audits are combined audits with other IFS Standards, it was essential for us to align version 3.2 with the other updated IFS Standards, especially IFS Food 8 and IFS Logistics 3. The revisions significantly facilitate the performance of combined IFS Audits. 

Leading retail, wholesale and food service companies trust IFS Broker Certification

IFS Broker is the standard for auditing the service compliance of brokers, sales representatives, traders and importers of food, household and personal care products or packaging materials. It belongs to the leading standards for certifying quality and product safety in this sector. 

Many retail, wholesale, and food service companies trust IFS Broker Certificates as they show that the certified company has established robust procedures and processes to trade products professionally and responsibly. Over 2,500 companies worldwide hold IFS Broker Certificates. 

IFS-certified companies benefit from a unique support package

IFS offers guidance, like guidelines and various tools, to support suppliers in reaching IFS Broker Certification and further enhancing product safety and quality management processes. 

The IFS Software, auditXpress Neo, supports reporting the internal audit results. An update to IFS Broker 3.2 will become available before the audits to the new version start. 

Approved IFS Training Providers offer training based on official IFS Materials and recognised IFS Consultants support businesses in implementing the requirements and training their staff.

International recognition   

The IFS Broker accreditation process is in progress with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to be recognised under the sub-scopes of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) product certification. IAF MLA signatories mutually recognise accredited certification. It helps to reduce barriers to trade as accredited certificates are recognised in many markets based on a single accreditation. Also, the benchmarking process with GFSI has started.  

More information  

IFS Broker version 3.2 is currently available in English only. Translations into our main languages will follow shortly. The doctrine for IFS Broker version 3.2 will also be published later. We will notify you of their publication in our newsletters, on our website or on LinkedIn. 

Stay up to date:


IFS PACsecure 3 – tailor-made for the packaging industry

We have published the newest version of the IFS PACsecure Standard. It aligns with the current market needs and comes with a new standard logo.

“Continuing our steadfast dedication to deliver standards of utmost value, we are pleased to introduce version 3 of the IFS PACsecure Standard. Our collaboration with industry experts, who rigorously review and enhance the information, ensures we are meeting the needs of our stakeholders. IFS PACsecure version 3 is aligned with the ever-changing market and is more user-friendly”, says IFS Managing Director Stephan Tromp. 

The IFS PACsecure Standard is for auditing packaging material manufacturing and converting processes concerning product safety, quality, and customer and regulatory compliance. The standard is applicable for the production, processing or conversion of packaging components and materials intended to be used as primary or secondary packaging for food products and other consumer goods.

Together with the packaging experts of PAC Global, IFS developed the first version of this standard in 2012, ensuring that it is tailor-made for the packaging industry. It has been the standard from the industry for the industry from the very beginning. 

Audits, according to IFS PACsecure version 3, are possible from 1 July 2024 and become mandatory on 1 October 2024.

IFS offers certified companies a unique support package

IFS offers guidance, like guidelines and various tools, to support suppliers in reaching IFS PACsecure Certification and further enhancing their product safety and quality management processes. Approved IFS Training Providers offer training based on official IFS Materials, and recognised IFS Consultants support businesses with implementing the requirements and training staff. 

Companies interested in gradually developing product safety and quality processes can start with the IFS Global Markets PACsecure Program. The program is built on standardised requirements and structured in two levels. It helps you progress towards IFS Certification within a defined time frame. 

International recognition

The IFS PACsecure version 3 accreditation process is in progress with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to be recognised under the sub-scopes of product certification of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). IAF MLA signatories mutually recognise accredited certification. It helps to reduce barriers to trade as accredited certificates are recognised in many markets based on a single accreditation. Also, the benchmarking process with GFSI has started. 

More information

IFS PACsecure version 3 is currently available in English only. Translations will come later, and we will inform you about them on LinkedIn and in our regular newsletters. 

For more details: 

Berlin, 21 February 2024

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