IFS Food is a GFSI recognised certification standard used by food manufacturers. It assesses the systems and processes a site uses to manage food safety, quality, authenticity and legal compliance. The standard is owned by IFS Management GmbH and is particularly common across continental Europe.
First launched in 2003, IFS Food is now in its eighth version. IFS reports that more than 20,000 certificates are held worldwide at the time of writing. The standard applies to food manufacturing and processing sites and sits alongside BRCGS and FSSC 22000 as a major GFSI recognised option.
Below, we explain what IFS Food assesses, how its audit and scoring system works, and how it compares with BRCGS and FSSC 22000.
What IFS Food covers
IFS Food applies to food manufacturing and processing after the agricultural stage. Farm-level activities are covered by other schemes, including GLOBALG.A.P. The IFS Food requirements are divided into six sections:
- Senior management responsibility. Commitment, policy, organisational structure and management review, including food safety and quality alongside environmental, ethics and personnel responsibilities.
- Quality and food safety management system. Documented systems built on HACCP principles aligned with Codex Alimentarius, alongside prerequisite programmes covering Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Hygiene Practice and Good Laboratory Practice.
- Resource management. Human resources, personnel hygiene, protective clothing, training, and procedures covering contractors, visitors and infectious disease control.
- Planning and production process. Good manufacturing practice requirements alongside contract agreements, specifications, product development, purchasing, traceability and allergen management.
- Measurements, analysis and improvements. Internal audits, inspections, process validation, calibration, product release, complaint handling, incident management, product recall and corrective actions.
- Food defence and external inspections. Defence assessments, site security and procedures for external inspections.
Some clauses are classed as Knock Out, or KO, requirements. If a site fails one of these requirements, it fails the audit regardless of its overall score. These clauses cover controls that IFS considers fundamental to the integrity of the certification process.
How certification works
An accredited, independent certification body carries out the IFS Food audit each year. At least one audit in every three-year cycle must be unannounced. A site that passes an unannounced audit receives Star Status, showing that it met the required standard without advance notice of the audit date.
The audit produces a score based on the site’s level of compliance with the standard. Any non-conformities must then be addressed in line with the applicable IFS requirements before certification can be issued or maintained.
As of the time of writing, IFS Food version 8 became mandatory for audits on 1 January 2024. It received GFSI recognition in September 2024.
IFS Food compared to BRCGS and FSSC 22000
IFS Food, BRCGS and FSSC 22000 are all GFSI recognised standards covering food manufacturing, and buyers will frequently accept any of the three. There are structural differences worth understanding.
IFS Food vs BRCGS
IFS Food and BRCGS are both retailer-driven standards developed in Europe. Their coverage is broadly similar, including senior management commitment, HACCP-based food safety planning, site standards, product and process controls, and personnel requirements. The main difference for many buyers is where the standards are most commonly requested. BRCGS originated in the UK and is more established in UK and Irish retail, while IFS Food originated through German and French retail associations and is more widely used across continental Europe.
IFS Food vs FSSC 22000
FSSC 22000 is built on the ISO 22000 management system standard, together with sector-specific prerequisite programmes and additional requirements. IFS Food has its own structure and scoring system and is not built on ISO 22000. Both are used across European and international food supply chains. In practice, the appropriate standard will usually depend on customer requirements, the site’s activities and the organisation’s existing management systems.
Why this matters for sourcing decisions
An IFS Food certificate shows that the manufacturing or processing site has been independently audited against a GFSI recognised standard. When reviewing a supplier, check that the certificate is current and covers the correct site, products and activities. IFS Food is common among manufacturers supplying continental Europe, even where UK buyers are more familiar with BRCGS.
As all three standards are GFSI recognised, the certification name alone should not determine supplier approval. Buyers should check the certificate scope, audit status and any customer-specific requirements.
FAQ
IFS stands for International Featured Standards. IFS Food covers food manufacturing, while the wider IFS portfolio includes standards for logistics, packaging, brokers and other parts of the supply chain.
Yes. IFS Food version 8 achieved GFSI recognition in September 2024, confirming the standard meets GFSI’s benchmarking requirements.
A Knock Out (KO) requirement is a specific clause considered critical to food safety. Failing to meet a Knock Out requirement results in a failed audit regardless of the overall score achieved elsewhere in the assessment.
Star Status is awarded to certified sites that have successfully passed an unannounced audit, which is mandatory at least once in every three-year certification cycle.
Both are GFSI recognised standards for food manufacturers with broadly similar coverage. IFS Food originated through German and French retail associations and is more dominant across continental Europe, while BRCGS originated in the UK and is more widely required by UK and Irish retailers.
Annually, with at least one unannounced audit required within every three-year cycle.
Summary
For UK procurement and technical teams, the main point is straightforward. IFS Food is a GFSI recognised standard commonly held by food manufacturers across continental Europe. A current certificate can support supplier approval, but it should always be checked for the correct site, scope and products. Customer-specific requirements will determine whether IFS Food, BRCGS or FSSC 22000 is the most appropriate certification.
