IFS - International Featured Standards

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯🎉 Today, we are happy to announce the publication of IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry version 3. ✔️ This standard is for assessing the safety and quality of products and processes of wholesalers, cash & carry businesses and packing companies. It supports sites in meeting the growing transparency and traceability demands in the market and contributes to increased efficiency. 🎤 “After eight years, we decided it was time for an update. We consulted with the wholesale industry, retailers and certification bodies to develop a standard specifically tailored to the needs of wholesalers, cash & carry businesses, and packing companies", says Stephan Tromp, IFS Managing Director. 💡 The standard is aligned with current legislation, norms and the other IFS Standards. Also, following a wish from the wholesale industry, the logo colour will change with the start of version 3. More significant changes are: ·        the reduction of the modules from four to two, ·        a leaner protocol with fewer requirements, ·        the updated scoring system, ·        the introduction of voluntary unannounced audits, and ·        broader applicability.   📅 Audits to version 3 can 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 and will 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.   🛒 Major players in wholesale and cash & carry, as well as companies packing vegetables, fruits and eggs, use the standard to have their sites audited, thus raising the quality of their services to the next level. Last year, 805 sites passed the audit and received the IFS Certificate. The certificate shows that the certified site is a reliable business partner that handles products in a safe, responsible and professional way. 👩🏫 IFS offers guidance, such as guidelines and digital tools, to support sites in optimising their product safety and quality management and reaching IFS Certification. Also, recognised IFS Consultants can support you with implementing the requirements. 🌐 The standard is available in English. We will later provide a translation into German and inform you accordingly. 😀 A big thank you to our colleague Irmtraut Rathjens de Suster and the members of the working group for their valuable input in presenting this updated and optimised version of the standard. We also want to express our gratitude to the members of the IFS Committees, national Working Groups, and the IFS Team for their contributions. Once again, it was an outstanding team effort! 👏 👉 For more information, visit the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry webpage: https://lnkd.in/epgcKuee   #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifswholesale #ifscashandcarry #productsafety #foodsafety #qualitymanagement #packing

In 2023, unannounced assessments were introduced as a new voluntary feature of the IFS Progress Food Program to demonstrate companies’ exceptional commitment to the quality and safety of their products.🤝 🚀 Unannounced assessments are an excellent opportunity for your company to show customers that you work according to IFS Requirements and follow a continuous improvement approach. ✔️ Companies at the Intermediate Level can use this option on their own initiative or because their business partners expect it of them. ⭐ The assessment report, the letter of confirmation and the IFS database state accordingly that the assessment was unannounced to highlight the supplier’s exceptional commitment to the quality and safety of its products.  👉 You can find more information about the unannounced assessment option in the IFS Progress Food 3 Program here: https://lnkd.in/eMvAwiEz 🔍 IFS Progress Food is a development program that helps food suppliers gradually build comprehensive food safety and quality processes and leads them to IFS Food Certification. For more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/dttSeZ2f #ifscertification #ifsprogress #ifsprogressfood #foodsafety #qualitymanagement

We are pleased to announce that two retailers from Poland, Biedronka and Żabka, are now represented in the IFS International Technical Committee (ITC).👏 📈 IFS has established a strong presence in Poland, with over 1,000 certificates issued in 2023 and a growth rate of 16.9% compared to 2020.    🛒 Biedronka, Poland's largest supermarket chain, is owned by Portuguese company Jerónimo Martins. Established in 1995, it operates over 3,500 stores nationwide. Bierdronka achieved a turnover of approximately €21.5 billion in 2023.    🛒 Żabka Polska is a leading convenience store chain in Poland. Founded in 1998, it operates over 9,000 outlets across the country and is one of the country's Top 10 supermarket chains. Żabka achieved a turnover of approximately € 4.3 billion in 2023.    💡 The IFS ITC makes final decisions about the technical content and approves our standards, programs, and checks. This prestigious committee currently includes experienced international experts and professionals from retail and wholesale companies (17), manufacturers (5), and certification bodies (5). #ifscertification #ifscommittees #ifsstandards #ifsnetwork #foodsafety #productsafety #qualitymanagement

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁: From 1 December, audits according to Logistics 3 will be mandatory❗ 📅 IFS Logistics 3 audits started on 1 June 2024 and become mandatory from 1 December 2024. The applicability of IFS Logistics 2 generally ends on 30 November 2024. Find exceptions to this rule in the current IFS Logistics 3 doctrine. 🎓 To prepare for the audit, IFS offers guidance, such as𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀, 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and reaching IFS Certification. We especially recommend downloading the checklists comparison between IFS Logistics versions 2.3 and 3. 💻 The 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗫𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗼 (𝗔𝗫𝗣 𝗡𝗲𝗼) is already available for IFS Logistics 3. It significantly facilitates the reporting of internal audits and is free of charge. AXP Neo enables you to assess your product safety and quality management system effectively. Also, the software will make it easier for you to collaborate with your CB, which is using the same software. 👩🏫 Also, take advantage of the 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 who offer industry training based on materials developed by IFS. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 can support you with implementing the requirements. Find the right one for your company at www.ifs-certification.com. 🚚 The IFS Logistics standard assesses the quality and safety of logistics activities and includes transport, storage, distribution, loading and unloading, and more. It supports logistics companies in meeting the growing transparency and traceability demands of their customers. 👉 Learn more about the standard, supporting documents and helpful tools: https://lnkd.in/eDYrw_R9 #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifslogistics #ifslogistics3 #productsafety #AXPNeo

The IFS Board and International Technical Committee (ITC) are meeting this week to discuss current topics regarding IFS. The IFS Board discusses current and strategic topics, while the ITC advises IFS on technical issues related to our standards and programs. 👩🏫 💡 The IFS Board and ITC members represent suppliers, retail companies, and certification bodies from various countries. They are recognised experts in the fields of food and product safety and quality management. Their diverse backgrounds and professional experiences ensure that all topics are viewed from multiple perspectives. This helps to address the challenges of the market in the development of our products and services." 🔍 In addition to the board and ITC, IFS has national working groups in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Poland. Other international working groups focus on specific topics, such as standard or program reviews, auditor exams or groups such as the CB working group. 🤝 We are grateful for having such an excellent network of dedicated experts to ensure that the IFS Standards and Programs meet the market's expectations. 🗺️ The map below gives you an overview of which organisations are actively involved in our committees. We thank all committee members for their valuable input and contributions! #ifscertification #ifscommittees #ifsstandards #ifsnetwork #foodsafety #productsafety #qualitymanagement

𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀❕          💡 We will offer all IFS Written Exams 2025 online. This change will benefit candidates in several ways: 🗸 Saves on travel costs; 🗸 Offers more options for exam registration; and 🗸 Allows all candidates to register for any dates, regardless of their country. 💡 To support candidates who may not pass their first written exam attempt, we will proactively schedule two written exam dates before each oral exam. This approach ensures that candidates can retake the exam promptly and stay on track in their qualification process. 💡 We have restructured the online written exam. All three parts of the general written exam are now combined into a single room screening and exam submission, making it quicker and easier to submit. 👉 You can find the schedules for the IFS Written Exams, IFS Oral Exams, and IFS Online Technical Scope Exams on our website by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gRmQN649 📧 If you see a need for an exam session in a specific region, please contact auditor@ifs-certification.com. We will check the feasibility of conducting an oral exam or combined exam session in that country. #ifscertification #ifsexamsschedule #ifsauditorexam #auditorqualification

The IFS Logistics 3 Doctrine is now available in Spanish❗🇪🇸 🎉🇪🇸 👉 Haga clic aquí para descargar el documento: https://lnkd.in/e238KauE 🗎 The IFS Logistics 3 Doctrine provides answers to frequently asked technical questions and gives clarifications about the requirements. It is a normative document complementing the standard. Accordingly, companies, certification bodies and auditors must follow the clarifications contained therein. 🔍 We published the English version of the IFS Logistics 3 Doctrine in May 2024. You can find out more about this document in our news article: https://lnkd.in/egnvwbns 📅 Logistics 3 audits are possible since 1 June and will become mandatory for all certified companies from 1 December 2024. The applicability of IFS Logistics 2.3 generally ends on 30 November 2024. Please find exceptions in the doctrine. 🌐 The doctrine is also available in English, Italian, French and German. You can download them from the Document Hub on www.ifs-certification.com. 🚀 Use our supporting documents and tools to prepare for your first IFS Logistics 3 Audit. You can find them here: https://lnkd.in/eDYrw_R9 #ifscertification #ifsstandards #ifslogistics #ifslogistics3 #productsafety #qualitymanagement

Companies undergoing IFS Progress Food version 3 assessments must meet 127 requirements at the Basic Level and 47 more at the Intermediate Level, which is quite challenging for all involved. 💪 It's encouraging to see most companies pass their assessment. The IFS Assessment reports and the IFS Scoring System are designed to promote continuous improvement, and we believe it's essential to learn from assessment findings. 🔍 📊 Analysis of the assessment results shows that most scored Major non-conformities were related to essential requirements concerning food safety, and product and regulatory compliance. 👉 The following are the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 identified: 1️⃣ Water potability     2️⃣ Traceability 3️⃣ Allergen labelling 4️⃣ Foreign body management 5️⃣ Labelling (regulation) 6️⃣ Quantity control 7️⃣ Packaging and labelling 8️⃣ Food safety hazards  9️⃣ Pest control  🔟 Measuring devices 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼❓ 💡 Strengthen your product safety and quality management skills by utilising the technical learning content on hygiene management, pest control and much more on our 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Read more in our fact sheet: https://lnkd.in/enabF4KK 💡 Contact a 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 who can support you in implementing the IFS Requirements. Find the right one for your company by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/dttSeZ2f 💡 Utilise our 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 to prepare for your next assessment: 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ➡️ Download here: https://lnkd.in/eG63E3nR 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 ➡️ Download here: https://lnkd.in/dhVdjqEP 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗣𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 ➡️ Download here: https://lnkd.in/e8CnBkKT 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗫𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗼 (𝗔𝗫𝗣 𝗡𝗲𝗼) ➡️ The free software makes internal audit reporting easy. It enables you to assess your food safety and quality management system effectively. You can download AXP Neo from the IFS Database. 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ➡️ In addition to the IFS Checklists, the app offers you various other tools, such as a compact collection of auditor questions, a glossary, guidelines and much more. You can download the mobile app from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. We support companies on their way to achieving their IFS Food Certification. Use these tips to prepare for your next assessment. 🚀 #ifsprogressfood #ifsprograms #ifsprogress #ifsscoringsystem #ifsguidelines #ifstools

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗙𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝟯 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 👀 💡 IFS Progress Food 3 Assessments started on 1 July 2023 and became mandatory in October 2023. We have checked the progress made with the new version. 🔍 🔵 A total of 1215 assessments, according to Progress Food 3, were performed between July 2023 and July 2024. 🔵 Impressive 94.8% of the assessed companies passed their assessment, with 2.07% being approved after a follow-up assessment. 🔵 Europe and Latin America remain the primary markets for IFS Progress Food. The top five countries are Germany, Brazil, Spain, Austria, and Columbia. 🚀 The analysis results are remarkable. Our analysis confirms that the program revision was successful. It also clearly demonstrates the assessed suppliers' dedication to delivering trusted, safe, quality products and their commitment to continuous improvement. 🎓 IFS offers guidance to support companies in optimising their product safety and quality management. Learn more about the program, supporting documents and helpful tools for your first IFS Progress Food 3 assessment here: https://lnkd.in/dttSeZ2f 👩🏫 Take advantage of the experience of approved training providers who offer industry training based on materials developed by IFS. Recognised IFS Consultants can support you with implementing the requirements. Find the right one for your company by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/dttSeZ2f #ifscertification #ifsprogress #ifsprogressfood #ifsprogressfood3 #foodsafety #qualitymanagement

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲! 🎉 🇭🇷 LabIS-ing j.d.o.o. in Croatia 🇪🇸 JASM in Spain 🇪🇸 IFS FOOD CONSULTING in Spain 🇹🇷 @Partner360 Danışmanlık in Türkiye 🦉 Approved IFS Training Providers offer industry courses that facilitate the implementation of IFS Requirements or impart knowledge about specific technical topics. Official IFS Training Materials provide the basis for these courses. 💡This way, you can be sure that only these providers will teach you how to implement IFS Requirements according to their original intention. Only our approved training providers may use the IFS Academy Logo. 👉 Contact an IFS Training Provider to prepare for IFS Certification, IFS Progress Programs, or to update your skills. Click here to find one: https://lnkd.in/eC2xcaKJ #ifscertification #ifstrainingsprovider #ifstraining #enhanceyourskills #foodsafety Slavica Ivanušec