IFS Global Markets - Food
A standardized food safety assessment program for retailers as well as industry branded food products.
What is IFS Global Markets - Food
IFS Global Markets - Food is available for food manufacturing category; it is the tool designed by IFS, aligned with HACCP according to Codex Alimentarius and GFSI Global Market, to provide the needed flexibility to approach the food safety system development at basic, basic + HACCP, and intermediate levels before full certification. The company can start at any level within the program. As basic and intermediate levels are regarded as transitional, each level duration should not exceed one year, unless a different individual agreement / requirement with business partners exists. Generally, a program must be agreed with the assessed company to achieve the requirements of the IFS Food Standard within a maximum of three years, but risk-based exceptions are allowed.
Benefits of becoming certified
Food safety is a key requirement in all the steps of the food supply chain, globally based on HACCP according to Codex Alimentarius and ensured throughout the industry by certification schemes established in the framework of the GFSI program. To be certified according one of the GFSI standard is often a pre-requirement to any business relationship along the food supply chain.
The journey towards food safety system certification can be long and complex, sometime too long – especially for small and medium companies strongly depending on factors such as the Country economic framework and the food safety awareness level.
That’s why the GFSI program includes an “entry point”, named GFSI Global Market, supporting the companies willing to improve their food safety system by providing the framework for both capacity building and demonstration to any stakeholder of the commitment to improvement and the actual level of implementation of the company’s food safety system, although not yet fully certified.
The letter of approval confirmation released by DNV at the end of the assessment process according to IFS Global Markets - Food, including correction and corrective actions when needed, will be the evidence of the result achieved and, over the years, of the improvement implemented toward full certification.
How does it work
The IFS Global Markets - Food requirements consist of 3 different levels; a self-assessment tool is available from the IFS website, and the completion of the self-assessment, including the addressing of any gap, is the first step to select the desired level.
When ready, the company can agree on the assessment level and date with DNV, who will appoint a competent auditor who will in turn provide the company with a detailed audit plan.
Our offering
DNV is an accredited third-party certification body, recognized for the IFS Global Markets - Food program and can support the capacity building process through both relevant IFS approved training programs, on-site pre-assessment, and added value food safety system audits.
