IFS Food
The conformity assessment checklist is aligned with the benchmarking requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative – GFSI, EU regulations and the US Food Act – FSMA. The requirements relate to the quality management system, the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) system and detailed prerequisite programs including GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GHP (Good Hygienic Practice). It includes a requirement to develop a food safety culture.
In April 2023, version 8.0 of the IFS Food standard was published. What are the changes in the new version? The main changes have been made to align the standard with the new Codex Alimentarius, the GFSI 2020 criteria and ISO 22003-2 for requirements for bodies performing assessment and certification of products, processes and services, including system audit for food safety. The terminology used in the standard is harmonized. There are some changes in the certification protocol, in the scoring system, IFS Star status has been introduced for unannounced audits, there are new requirements introduced in the audit checklist, etc.
Structure
IFS Food covers business areas key to establishing effective processes to ensure food safety:
- Governance and commitment – review of senior management commitment to support sustainability of food safety culture and quality assurance policy.
- Food Safety and Quality Management System – required to meet legal and food safety requirements as well as customer specifications.
- Resource management – managing human resources, working conditions, hygiene and sanitation to ensure product safety.
- Operational processes – manufacturing safe, quality products to customer specifications.
- Measurement, analysis and improvement – inspections, process validation and complaint management and corrective actions.
The version expands the requirements to protect food along the food supply chain against intentional contamination by implementing action plans, risk assessments and employee training programs.
The standard contains requirements for allergen management and requires proper separation, cleaning protocols and clear labeling of accurate ingredient lists and allergen declarations on product packaging. IFS Food introduces requirements for environmental monitoring – assessment and control of potential microbiological and physical hazards in production facilities. Regular monitoring, corrective actions and inspections are required to ensure the safety and quality of food products.
IFS Food also includes requirements to reduce and mitigate food fraud. It encourages companies to implement risk assessments and maintain tracking systems to prevent fraud in the supply chain.
Advantages of IFS Food
By adhering to IFS Food version 8, companies can reap numerous benefits. The standard helps organizations:
- to maintain the highest levels of food safety, building consumer confidence in the products they buy and thereby increasing demand;
- demonstrate a commitment to transparency, quality management and continuous improvement;
- proactively identify and mitigate potential risks through a risk-based approach and increased senior management involvement
- to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
- to determine hazard control methods best suited to their unique conditions.
- to improve their processes, reducing waste and costs associated with recalls, complaints or rejected products and rework.
IFS Food
Implementation of management standards
CONSEJO Ltd. is a consulting company with over 20 years of practical experience in the development, implementation and maintenance of management systems in accordance with international standards and regulatory requirements. The company provides consulting services in the areas of quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, food safety, information security, cybersecurity, risk management and sustainable development. Our expertise covers standards and schemes such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO/IEC 27001, IFS Food, BRCGS and HACCP, as well as consulting services related to NIS2, DORA, GDPR and EcoVadis.
The CONSEJO team has been involved in over 1,500 projects for organizations across various sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, construction, energy, information technology, transport, trade, the food industry and services. Our approach focuses on developing management systems that work effectively in practice, tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each organization. We work closely with our clients, providing consulting support, staff training and assistance during implementation. We strive to deliver high-quality services within the agreed deadlines and solutions that support successful certification and create long-term value for businesses.
