IFS Global Markets Food version 3
On 31 January 2023, the new version of IFS Global Markets was published. The IFS Global Markets standard was developed for smaller companies, as a possible stepping stone towards IFS Food certification.
Edith Castelein
What is IFS Global Markets Food?
IFS Global Markets Food supports smaller companies in developing their food safety and quality processes and in taking steps towards implementing the IFS Food Standard. The programme includes checklists at two levels, namely basic and intermediate level.
What is IFS Food certification?
IFS (International Featured Standards) focuses on food safety and hygiene in the food processing and related sectors. IFS is an international standard with more than 11,000 certified companies in more than 95 countries and is often referred to as the German/French counterpart to the British BRCGS standard. IFS requires, as a baseline, a documented and efficient HACCP and quality management system and sets additional requirements regarding management responsibility, resource management, substantiation of production processes, staff hygiene, measurements and analyses.
What do the changes in IFS Global Markets Food – version 3 involve?
- Version 3 is aligned with the IFS Food standard (product and process approach), the new Codex Alimentarius and the latest changes in legislation.
- There are 15 new requirements to continue meeting legal requirements and essential fundamental topics.
- The guideline has been integrated into a checklist to implement the requirements more efficiently.
- The wording of the programme has been made clearer.
- Some requirements have been further split up for clarification.
- It is now possible to optionally choose follow-up assessments, extension assessments and voluntary unannounced assessments.
- The reporting format has been updated for a clearer presentation of results.
- The intermediate level requirements are now also risk-based, as in all IFS standards.
- Various timelines have been added for corrective actions, whereby findings must be addressed within a set period.
- 50% of the assessment must take place on-site.
Comparative overview of the number of requirements between IFS Global Markets Food and IFS Food:
IFS FOOD
232 requirements
Basic level IFS Global Market 3
127 requirements
Covers 45% of IFS Food requirements
Intermediate level IFS Global Market 3
127 + 74 requirements
Covers 70% of IFS Food requirements
How can AMNorman support you?
IFS Global Markets version 3 assessments become voluntary as of 1 July 2023 and mandatory as of 1 October 2023. Our AMNorman experts are happy to help with interpreting and implementing these requirements.
