IFS - International Featured Standards

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸!🚀 💡 With emerging challenges and heightened regulatory scrutiny, many enterprises worldwide face significant hurdles in implementing target-oriented risk management within their supply chains. Therefore, we introduce the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check today. 🎯 The annual assessment evaluates whether companies have established and maintained effective processes for analysing critical commodity-related risks in their supply chains. 👀 The check results offer valuable insights into current practices and indicate areas for development, ensuring companies meet both stakeholder expectations and evolving government regulations. 🚀 The IFS Supply Chain Processes Check helps companies reduce risks, protect their business, and demonstrate a proactive approach to future planning. 📣 The introduction of the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check marks the first product under the 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Under this brand, we will introduce further process checks and IT tools, all designed to assist companies in managing and monitoring supply chain risks effectively and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and stakeholder demands. 📣 A big shout out to our colleague Tina Brune and the IFS team members for their exceptional dedication to making this brand and product launch a success. It was truly a remarkable team effort! 👏 👇For more information, see the newsletter below or visit the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check webpage: https://lnkd.in/eNb4D5PZ #ifscertification #ifssupplychainprocessescheck #ifsSCPC #ifssupplychainsolutions #supplychainmanagement #ifsriskmanagement

Day 2 of the IFS Food Safety Kongress wrapped up with an inspiring keynote from our Managing Director, Stephan Tromp, who provided attendees with valuable insights to enhance their supply chain management practices.👏 During his lecture, Stephan Tromp introduced our new brand, IFS Supply Chain Solutions, which will provide a comprehensive portfolio of supply chain management checks and IT tools. Under the claim "Protect your Business", IFS Supply Chain Solutions is designed to support companies in effectively monitoring and managing risks within their supply chains. He emphasised the importance of taking action now as current and future legal obligations demand it, and consumers want more transparency regarding the supply chain. Auditors used to assess only what was inside the warehouse; now, they must evaluate whether the company understands the risks in its upstream supply chain and can effectively address them. A crucial consideration is whether the company has established effective supply chain management processes and is aware of risks related to critical raw materials, such as food safety, food fraud and ESG risks, and measures to reduce them. He highlighted that knowing every step in the supply chain is not really necessary. Still, it is essential to know where the critical raw material was originally produced. Using a cereal bar as an example, he illustrated the complex producer level in the global product supply chain. The bar's 15 ingredients can consist of up to 35 raw materials from all corners of the earth. Recognising the complexity of this task and its associated risks, he explained that IFS has developed the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check to assist small and medium-sized companies with their supply chain management. He highlighted the IFS Commodity List, an essential part of the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check. The list helps identify vulnerabilities by listing critical raw materials and assessing associated risks based on economic, environmental, social and political factors. Along with the IFS Commodity List included in the IFS auditXpress Neo Software, he presented the additional support package for the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check - a programme document, guideline, brochure and, coming soon, e-learning modules for auditors and the industry. Lastly, Stephan Tromp gave a preview of another solution coming soon under the IFS Supply Chain Solutions brand, which will further deepen this approach. Looking back, the two-day event was filled with engaging presentations and various reports from food safety experts about their business practices, recent insights, and technological innovations. Additionally, we received updates on current political developments and new legislation. 📅 We can’t wait to reconnect with you all at the 18th Food Safety Kongress, which will be held from 24 to 25 February 2026 in the lively city of Berlin! #ifscertification #FoodSafety2025 #FSK25 #ifsriskmanagement #foodsafety #ifsingermany

Today marks the first day of the Food Safety Kongress 2025 in Berlin. We are excited for two days of engaging lectures and lively discussions! 🔗 This morning, IFS Managing Director Stephan Tromp and Deputy Managing Director of Food Federation Germany Dr Marcus Girnau delivered a compelling opening speech that set the tone for the event. In their remarks, they provided an overview of the latest developments in the industry and emphasised the crucial interaction between food safety, security and sustainability management. 🎤 Today and tomorrow, we will hear a variety of reports from food safety experts about their business practices, new insights, and technological innovations. We will also receive updates on political developments and new legislation. 🤝 As a valued partner of this event, IFS invites all congress participants to visit our booth and join us today at IFS Food Safety@Night. It is an excellent opportunity to network with industry experts in a stimulating atmosphere. We also thank ALS and Invitek Diagnostics for co-sponsoring this event. 🎯 The Food Safety Kongress is a key event for the German-speaking food safety community, where experts from the food industry, politics, and science discuss challenges like the energy crisis, raw material shortages, and supply chain disruptions. See you there for lively discussions and exchanging ideas ❕ Foto credits: Rosendahl Fotografie #ifscertification #FoodSafety2025 #FSK25 #ifsriskmanagement #riskmanagement #foodsafety #ifsingermany

The 17th Food Safety Congress is coming up soon! On 18 and 19 February 2025, leading experts from the German-speaking food safety community will meet in Berlin. ⌛ 📅 Join us on 19 February when our Managing Director, Stephan Tromp, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 💡Our solutions will help companies effectively monitor and manage risks in their supply chains, addressing issues such as breaches of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations, food fraud, and non-compliance with customer specifications. 🔍The Food Safety Kongress is the premier event for food safety and quality management professionals in German-speaking countries. It provides an ideal platform to discuss various challenges in the food industry, including the energy crisis, raw material shortages, and supply chain disruptions, alongside experts from the food industry, politics, and science. 🤝 IFS is supporting the congress as a partner and sponsor of the evening event 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆@𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟴 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆. We invite you to connect with us there and at our booth for engaging discussions about the future of food safety! 👉 For more information on the program and speakers, click here: https://lnkd.in/dpyRMweB ❗ Registration is still open: https://lnkd.in/dbTxSTsK We are looking forward to catching up with you there! #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifsriskmanagement #riskmanagement #ifssupplychainsolutions #supplychainmanagement #foodsafety #ifsingermany AFC Consulting Group AG The Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE) Food Federation Germany Handelsverband Deutschland e.V. (HDE)

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺🎬 👉 The updated IFS Scoring System applies to IFS Food 8, Logistics 3, Broker 3.2, Wholesale and Cash &Carry 3, PACsecure 3, and IFS HPC 3. 📈 The IFS Scoring System is unique in giving an audited company differentiated feedback on its performance and indicating where it can improve. This way, it drives continuous improvement and supports reaching a higher score. 👀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. It explains the grades, the difference between corrections and corrective actions, and what is expected when an auditor finds deviations or non-conformities. 🖺 Our brochure, "The IFS Scoring System - Driving Continuous Improvement", explains the system in more detail. 🎤 It is also available in our main languages. Download it in your favourite language here: 🇬🇧 English: https://lnkd.in/esR5fY3s 🇫🇷 French: https://lnkd.in/e9bpSefD 🇩🇪 German: https://lnkd.in/ebTcc466 🇮🇹 Italian: https://lnkd.in/eXyp26qv 🇪🇸 Spanish: https://lnkd.in/eDcXdUMx 🌍 You can also find the IFS Scoring System video on YouTube with French, German, Italian and Spanish subtitles ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eBBfRASH #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifsscoringsystem

Are you curious about who is primarily responsible for our Wholesale and Cash & Carry standard❔ Meet Irmtraut Rathjens de Suster, our Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard Manager and Senior Technical Manager! 😊 🌍 Irmtraut holds a degree in agricultural sciences and later studied food science and technology. She spent 20 years abroad working in various areas of the food industry, focusing on product development and quality management. 🤝 Since returning to Germany in 2015, Irmtraut has been with IFS for nearly a decade. Initially, she worked as Senior Quality Assurance Manager for the IFS Integrity Program and later for IFS Auditor Management. She then transitioned to the IFS Standard Management department as Senior Technical Manager, taking on responsibility for the Wholesale and Cash & Carry standard in 2022. 🚀 Irmtraut values the diversity of stakeholders within the IFS working groups, as it enriches discussions by incorporating multiple perspectives. During our recent review of the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard, she had the opportunity to collaborate closely with a productive and supportive working group. 👉 Get to know Irmtraut and read our latest IFS Faces blog post: https://lnkd.in/ebGTE695 👉 Learn more about IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/epgcKuee #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifsfaces #aboutus #ourteam #ifscashandcarry #ifswholesale3 #ifscashandcarry3 #productsafety #foodsafety #qualitymanagement #packing

IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry 3 has been available since December 2024! We are curious to see what the market says about the new version and the standard in general. 👀 Dr. Gabriel Hanne, Director Quality Assurance at METRO Deutschland GmbH says about the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard: "The IFS Cash & Carry Standard is specifically designed to meet the diverse requirements and structures of the wholesale industry. The standard ensures that our locations have established robust processes to guarantee food safety and quality." "At METRO Germany, this standard provides us with the necessary flexibility needed to adapt to the unique conditions at each location," he adds, emphasising the advantages of IFS Certification for his company. Thinking beyond larger enterprises, he highlights the benefits for smaller companies: "However, it is not only large companies such as METRO that benefit from the new version of the standard — it also supports smaller companies in the wholesale industry in fulfilling legal requirements and meeting documentation obligations towards customers." We say, "Thank you, Dr Gabriel Hanne, for your insight into working with the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard." 🏪 Headquartered in Düsseldorf, Metro Germany is one of the pioneers in the German wholesale sector. More than 13,000 employees work in 107 METRO and METRO GASTRO wholesale stores in Germany. 🔍 We launched version 3 of the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard in December 2024. The new version has fewer modules and requirements and a new logo colour. Further updates concern the scoring system and the introduction of the star status to indicate an unannounced audit. All these updates make working with the standard more efficient for all parties involved. 🛒 The IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard assesses the safety and quality of products and processes of wholesalers, cash & carry businesses, and packing companies. It supports these businesses in meeting the growing transparency and traceability demands in the market and contributes to increased efficiency. 👉 For more information about IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry, click here: https://lnkd.in/epgcKuee #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifswholesale #ifscashandcarry #ifswholesale3 #ifscashandcarry3 #productsafety #foodsafety #qualitymanagement #packing

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯! 👀 Less than four months until the first audits according to version 3 are possible. A perfect moment to take another look at  what has changed: ⬇️ 𝗙𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀: We reduced the modules from four to two, and the same checklists apply for wholesale and cash & carry businesses. 📄 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹: There are fewer requirements, an optimised protocol, and an enhanced structure following the audit path. 🤝 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱: The protocol structure, scoring system, and terminology are aligned with the other IFS Standards, especially IFS Food and IFS Logistics. 🔍 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: We updated the definitions of the relevant technology scopes to provide greater coherence. 🛵 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: The optimised checklist is now also applicable to grocery delivery services. ⭐ 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: Sites can go for an unannounced audit on a voluntary basis. This type of audit enhances the credibility of the audit process, showing that your company consistently meets IFS requirements. A star in the logo, the certificate, and the report will indicate this. 🆕 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗼: We adapted the colour of the standard logo. With the start of audits to version 3, the new standard logo will appear on the IFS Certificates and Reports. To help you prepare effectively for your upcoming audit, IFS offers comprehensive support: 1️⃣ Contact an approved IFS Consultant for advice, guidance or training on implementing the IFS Requirements or specific topics. You can find them on the Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard webpage. 2️⃣ Use our free IFS auditXpress Neo Software to make your internal audit reporting more convenient and efficient. It also facilitates cooperation with your auditor and certification body using the same software. You can download the software in the login area of the IFS Database. 3️⃣ Download the  IFS Scoring System Brochure from our website in English, German, French, Italian, or Spanish. It explains the IFS Scoring System, which applies to IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry 3, in detail. 🚀 We launched version 3 of the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry Standard in December 2024 to align it with current regulations, market expectations and the latest trends. The new version makes working with this IFS Standard much more flexible and efficient for everyone involved. 📅 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 according to version 3 will be 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 and become 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. 👉 Learn more about the standard, supporting documents and helpful tools here: https://lnkd.in/epgcKuee #ifscertiftion #wholesale #cashandcarry #ifswholesale3 #ifscashandcarry3 #productsafety #foodsafety #qualitymanagement #packing

Join us for networking with your peers at the IFS Food Safety@night event on 18 February 2025!🕸️ The 17th Food Safety Congress is just around the corner! Leading experts from the German-speaking food safety community will gather in person on 𝟭𝟴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟵 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 in Berlin. 🔍The Food Safety Kongress is the premier event for food safety and quality management professionals in German-speaking countries. It provides an ideal platform to discuss various challenges in the food industry, including the energy crisis, raw material shortages, and supply chain disruptions, alongside experts from the food industry, politics, and science.  📅 Join us on 19 February when our IFS Managing Director, Stephan Tromp, will share insights into our new brand, IFS Supply Chain Solutions. 💡Our solutions will help companies effectively monitor and manage risks in their supply chains, addressing issues such as breaches of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations, food fraud, and non-compliance with customer specifications. 🤝 IFS is supporting the congress as a partner and sponsor of the evening event Food Safety@night event on 18 February. We invite you to connect with us there and at our booth for engaging discussions about the future of food safety! 👉 For more information on the program and speakers, click here: https://lnkd.in/dpyRMweB ❗Registration is still open: https://lnkd.in/dbTxSTsK We are looking forward to catching up with you there! #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifsriskmanagement #riskmanagement #ifssupplychainsolutions #supplychainmanagement #foodsafety #ifsingermany

We updated the IFS Split Audit Protocol❗ 💡 The protocol explains what needs to be considered when an IFS Audit is carried out both on-site and online as a split audit. It ensures that the requirements for the split audit are consistently applied during the audit process in accordance with the IFS Standards.  💻 The IFS Split Audit has been developed as an alternative for situations where conducting a full on-site IFS Audit at the physical location is not possible. However, the on-site component is mandatory for all IFS Standards that include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or Good Distribution Practices (GDP) requirements. 🔍 The split audit option only applies to recertification audits. IFS Broker is an exception to this rule. This standard has its own full remote audit protocol because good manufacturing practices and hygiene are not central audit criteria. ❗ The certification body and the company need to agree to conduct the IFS Audit as a split audit. The reason for performing a split audit must be documented in the report. 👉 You can download the IFS Split Audit Protocol version 2 in English for free here: https://lnkd.in/eqrSw9Qk Follow us on LinkedIn or visit www.ifs-certification.com to stay updated on relevant documents for your IFS Audit! #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifssplitaudit #ifsfood #ifspacsecure #ifslogistics #ifshpc