IFS Food Standard 7: all current requirements - IFS Food Standard 8 expected

Key facts summarised for you

Update as of April 2021. After long preparations, the published version of IFS Food Version 7 is available. Since 1 July 2021, auditing has been mandatory. Currently, a revision of IFS Food is already taking place - The first draft of IFS Food 8 is expected in April (please see the info box). Here at this place you will always find a compilation of the currently valid requirements.

Changes in the audit protocol of IFS Food 7

• First of all, there are changes in the certification process; at least 50% of the time is allocated to the on-site inspection with a risk-based product sampling. The company must also report any changes relevant to the certification process to the certification body within 3 working days, this also applies to product recalls.
• The assessments have also been revised. A "B" is now considered a "point of attention" which requires increased attention. A "B" assessment of KO requirements is not possible.
• Outsourced processes now must be contractually regulated. If there is no IFS or GFSI-recognised certification, an audit must be carried out by a competent person. During the audit, the auditor checks all related documentation. Merchandise and completely outsourced processes are still not covered by the IFS audit.
• The companies are subdivided into different types of production sites, with the addition of a production site with different legal entities.
• For the first time, IFS Food 7 deals intensively with the food safety culture in companies, which is taken into account in the management evaluation and in company policy. The main focus is on bringing confidence to the products and processes.
• Every third audit will be an unannounced audit.
• A GLN (Global Location Number) will be mandatory for companies in the European Economic Area and the UK.
• If an unannounced audit is not passed, a new, announced audit must be carried out.

Split audits in times of Corona

With an update in January 2021, IFS has also created the possibility to offer the recertification assessments as a split assessment. This can be applied to all IFS Standards and, with the exception of IFS Broker, an on-site part must always be carried out 50% of the time. The on-site part is assessed first and the document review is then done online. The remote assessment must be completed within 14 days.

Please note that you must clarify with your customers in advance whether the certificate will be recognised on the basis of the IFS Split Assessment. At the same time, a risk assessment must take place to check whether it is technically possible. All relevant documents and records must be able to be made available digitally. On the certificate, the note "Part of the assessment was carried out using ICT - split assessment".

This procedure has made it possible to continue to carry out assessments in the timeframe during the pandemic and to minimise the corona risk for those involved.

Use of the IFS Logo

The new version of the IFS Food Standard also gives a note on the use of the IFS logo: only the latest version may be used and only the one for which you are certified. If products are excluded from certification, this must be indicated on the logo.

Adjustments of the list of audit requirements

• The question catalogue is now called "List of IFS Food Assessment Requirements" and has been shortened by 15% of the requirements. However, new requirements have also been added.
• The HACCP concept now becomes the HACCP plan and, in addition to the radiological hazards, now also takes into account the influence of allergens, the materials that come into contact with the product and the packaging material. Strip curtains made of plastic are explicitly mentioned, in the management of foreign objects further details such as e.g. pipes, walkways, ladders and platforms must be taken into account in foreign object management. Specific requirements are also set for the cleaning of work clothing.
• You will have to take more personal responsibility for pest control; a person of the company trained in this area should supervise the ongoing monitoring.
• A competent person responsible for food fraud must be appointed to review the vulnerability analysis at least once a year. The Food Defense section was clearly summarised, the effectiveness of the concept is integrated into the internal audits.
• Food waste that goes into the feed industry also has defined requirements to prevent the risk of contamination or deterioration.
• Traceability must be available within 4 hours, and for the first time the use of "rework" is also taken into account.
• The section on "GMOs" has been completely removed and a new point for products "free from" has been added. For this, verifiable methods must be implemented.

Analytical support

In the field of analytics, we gladly support you with rapid tests for "free from" products, chemical-physical tests or relevant parameters from environmental analysis, which are now more explicitly covered by IFS Food 7. We also assist you in updating your sampling plan, since, in addition to your product analyses, process analysis is now also requested. Your personal account manager and our experts for analysis and certification are looking forward to your enquiry.