IFS was born in Germany in 2003 at the initiative of the German Retail Federation (HDE). It was then extended to France in 2004 with the incorporation of its French counterpart (FCD), and to Italy in 2007.
The fundamental objectives of IFS are to establish a common food safety standard with a uniform assessment system for all suppliers; to work with accredited certification bodies and qualified auditors; to ensure compatibility and transparency throughout the supply chain; and to reduce cost and time for suppliers and retailers.
IFS Food applies to companies that process food and to those that pack bulk products. The standard only applies where a product is processed or where there is a risk of contamination during primary packaging. The format and content of the standard are designed to allow assessment of facilities, operating systems, procedures and the quality system by a competent, recognized third-party body.
IFS Food audits are carried out by our partner Sygma Certification, S.L. (Spain), accredited by the Spanish national accreditation body ENAC (accreditation No. 47/C-PR080) for food sector product certification. Sygma Certification Maroc handles local coordination of your file.
Why get IFS Food certified
- International recognition: a GFSI-benchmarked standard, required by many retailers across Europe and internationally.
- Food safety culture: a standard that explicitly engages leadership on product safety and quality, not just quality teams.
- Transparency and traceability: a uniform assessment system that facilitates dialogue with your retail clients.
Structure
The currently applicable version is IFS Food version 8, published on 18 April 2023 and mandatory for all certified audits since 1 January 2024 — it replaces version 7. Requirements are organized into six sections plus an associated audit protocol.
Among the notable changes in version 8: an optimized audit protocol, a new definition of the B score, the introduction of a « star » status highlighting unannounced audits, as well as strengthened requirements on:
- food safety culture and management commitment
- food fraud and food defense planning
- subcontracting management
- traceability and recall exercises
- foreign body prevention and pest control
At least one audit out of every three years must be unannounced, including in the event of a change of certification body. Companies within the European Economic Area must also have a GLN (Global Location Number), mandatory in the assessment report.
The certification journey
- Quote request and scope analysis with Sygma Certification Maroc
- Assessment scheduling with a qualified IFS auditor
- On-site assessment (at least 50% of time spent on production lines)
- Certification decision by Sygma Certification, S.L. (ENAC) and surveillance
Useful links
- Official site: IFS Certification
- IFS Food 8 Doctrine — up-to-date normative clarifications