IFS Local Check: the pragmatic step towards greater food safety and trust

IFS Local is designed for local, small-scale food producers who want to demonstrate, in a practical and achievable way, that their production environment, processes and products meet essential food safety and compliance requirements.

For companies that want to professionalise without immediately embarking on a heavy certification process, IFS Local Check is an interesting intermediate step. It is at once a control instrument, a growth model and a way to build trust in the chain.

What exactly is IFS Local Check?

IFS Local Check is intended for small food companies with a single production site, without outsourced processes and without complex management structures. Think, for example, of family businesses, artisanal producers, cooperatives or traditional processors with limited production volumes.

The approach is clear: a proportionate assessment, tailored to the reality of small-scale production. No overkill in systems or documentation, but a clear focus on what really matters: food safety, legal compliance and essential product conformity.

This approach makes IFS Local Check particularly relevant for producers making their own branded products or private label who want to strengthen their operations towards retail, customers or further growth.

Who is IFS Local Check suitable for?

IFS Local Check does not target large organisations or companies with multiple sites. The system is explicitly intended for local, small-scale producers with a straightforward operation. Think of a butcher who makes packaged preparations, a small dairy producer, an artisanal processor of pickled vegetables or fish, a bakery supplying seasonal products to retail, or a regional producer with limited exports.

It's important that the company operates from a single production site, does not use outsourcing, and is not yet certified under another IFS standard. That is precisely where the strength of this check lies: it fits companies that often find themselves between craftsmanship and professionalisation.

Why is IFS Local Check becoming increasingly relevant?

The market increasingly expects transparency. Local producers, too, must demonstrate that their processes are under control and that food safety is not a loose promise, but a concrete reality on the shop floor.

IFS Local Check helps with this on three levels.

• First, it gives the company itself a clearer picture of where it stands today. The check reveals which basic requirements are already well secured and where growth opportunities remain.
• Second, it builds trust with customers and trading partners. It shows that products from small-scale production still meet minimum international requirements.
• Third, it forms an achievable stepping stone towards further professionalisation. For companies that eventually want to grow towards a more structured quality management system, this is often a logical first step.

Which requirements are checked?

IFS Local Check works with a modular structure. The basic requirements are always mandatory and form the core of the assessment. In addition, depending on the legal context, the risk profile and agreements with customers, HACCP-based requirements and additional requirements can also be included.

The basic requirements cover topics such as food safety, legal compliance and essential product characteristics, including composition, stability, packaging and integrity. These are therefore not optional points of attention, but the foundations on which a reliable production environment rests.

In addition, HACCP principles can be assessed, based on the Codex Alimentarius. Additional requirements regarding documentation, monitoring and control systems can also form part of the check.

In practice, this means that IFS Local Check is not a one-size-fits-all instrument. The system takes into account the nature of the company, its activities, its risks and market expectations.

How does an IFS Local Check work?

An IFS Local Check is always announced and takes place during active production. The duration usually varies between 2 and 6 hours, with a maximum of 8 hours, depending on the scope and the requirements being assessed.

The check typically includes an opening meeting, an evaluation of essential information, an on-site inspection of processes and production, a review of documents and records, and a closing meeting. The emphasis is on practical application on the shop floor. It's not just what's on paper that counts, but above all whether processes are actually kept under control in reality.

This makes the check both accessible and sharp at the same time. It is more compact than a full system audit, but does genuinely look at the essentials.

How is the score determined?

IFS Local Check works with a scoring model in which the final result is expressed as a percentage. To be approved, the company must achieve at least 75% on the basic requirements, and there must be no critical non-conformities on the basic requirements.

When HACCP-based or additional requirements apply, these must also individually achieve at least 75%, on top of the approved basic check.

If the outcome is positive, a report is drawn up and a confirmation letter is issued. These results are uploaded to the IFS database. The check must be renewed annually.

If a critical deviation is identified or the score falls below 75%, approval cannot be granted. In certain cases, a re-check is possible, but if the situation has not been sufficiently remedied, a new initial check must be started from scratch.

IFS Local Check is not a "light audit" you do on the side

Because IFS Local Check is set up pragmatically and proportionately, there is sometimes an impression that preparation can remain limited. In practice, we see exactly the opposite: companies often underestimate how much basic structure is needed to be demonstrably in control, even in a small-scale context.

Think of clear responsibilities, correct records, adequate hygiene control, product knowledge, traceability and a workable risk analysis. Precisely because the system is tailored to the reality of small producers, sloppiness or a lack of basic control stands out more quickly.

Anyone who wants to approach IFS Local Check properly would do well to look not only at the check itself, but also at the underlying operation of the company.

What is the difference between IFS Local Check and IFS Progress Food?

IFS Local Check and IFS Progress Food are sometimes mentioned in the same breath, but they are not the same.

Both systems can serve as an entry-level model towards further quality assurance, but their target audience and set-up differ clearly. IFS Local Check is specifically designed for local, small-scale producers with a single site, without outsourcing and without a complex structure. The instrument is operational, modular and deliberately kept accessible.

IFS Progress Food is broader and heavier. There, the emphasis is much more strongly on a structured food safety management system, more extensive documentation and a clear growth path towards IFS Food certification. It is therefore mainly suitable for companies that are already further along in their maturity and want to grow towards a full IFS level.

In short:

IFS Local Check is pragmatic and proportionate. IFS Progress Food is more structured and systematic.

What does IFS Local Check deliver for your business?

Good preparation for IFS Local Check delivers more than just a confirmation letter.

You gain better insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your current operation. You create more stability in your processes. You increase your credibility towards customers and retailers. And you lay a foundation for further professionalisation, without immediately falling into heavy system overhead.

For many companies, that is exactly the right step: first get the basics right, then scale up further.

How does AMNorman help with IFS Local Check?

At AMNorman, we don't believe in theoretical models that look good on paper but don't work on the shop floor. We help food companies translate quality and compliance practically into their daily reality.

For IFS Local Check, we support companies with, among other things:

• assessing the suitability of their site and activities
• defining the scope and relevant requirements
• preparing processes, records and documentation
• strengthening hygiene, traceability and product control
• practically fulfilling HACCP obligations where relevant
• guiding the check, action plans and follow-up after the check

Our approach is no-nonsense, strong in content and tailored to the reality of small and medium-sized food companies. No unnecessary complexity, just a system that works and holds up.