The aim of the IFS is to create a consistent evaluation system for all companies supplying retailer branded food products with uniform formulations, uniform audit procedures and mutual acceptance of audits, which will create a high level of transparency throughout the supply chain.

The International Food Standard (IFS) is developed for all type of retailers (all sizes of companies and shops, independent or not) and for wholesalers with similar activities (e.g. cash and carry).

They all have to ensure the safety of their “own branded” products they sell. IFS helps to comply with all legal food safety requirements and gives a common and transparent standard to the all concerned suppliers as well as a concrete and strong answer to the high safety expectations of customers.

Goal

IFS is a common internationally accepted audit standard by the food business in order to improve continuously food safety for the consumers.

To achieve this goal

• Partnerships of international specialists
• Selection of the IFS auditors
• Official accreditation of the IFS certification bodies
• An internationally accepted IFS management responsible for the international development and presence of IFS
• An IFS Board responsible for the control of the fulfillments of the defined goals
• An IFS Working Group for the development of the IFS content and the IFS examination process
• Excellence (high level experts, high level standard)
• Transparency (between partners and users)
• Efficiency (financial aspects, timesaving)
• Useful and of concrete advantages for the users
• Comparable results of the suppliers
• Better as the competitors in order to achieve a strong position in the market
• Advantage for every retailer
• Efficient and secure process for choosing the right supplier for retailer (or wholesaler) branded products
• Secure food safety and quality assessment of the supplier and the production process
• Safe retailer (or wholesaler) branded products
• Liability coverage for retailers (or wholesalers)