IFS Food
International Featured Standards for food manufacturers
IFS Food is a quality and food safety certification standard developed by German, French, and Italian retailers (HDE, FCD, ANCD). It is the dominant retailer-driven certification standard in continental Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux, Eastern Europe).
Currently at Version 8, IFS Food covers governance and commitment, quality and food safety management system, resource management, operational processes, measurements/analyses/improvements, food defense (TACCP/VACCP). Audits result in scores: Higher Level, Foundation Level, or non-conforming.
For Egyptian food manufacturers exporting to German hard-discounters (ALDI, LIDL), French retailers (Carrefour, Auchan), or Italian buyers, IFS Food certification is often expected alongside or instead of BRCGS.
FoodGate Audit performs IFS Food pre-audits and gap assessments. We assist Egyptian facilities in achieving and maintaining IFS Food Higher Level scoring. Common areas needing attention: food fraud vulnerability assessment (VACCP), food defense (TACCP), and personnel training records.