IFS: Standards, Certification, Requirements

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 8, 2026

Definition: What is IFS?

IFS (International Featured Standards) is a group of GFSI-recognized certification standards for food safety and quality. The best-known and most widely used standard in the group, IFS Food, evaluates manufacturing facilities throughout the entire process chain – from raw material receipt to delivery – using a detailed point system and is often required by retail partners as a prerequisite for product listing.

Publisher: IFS Management GmbH

Current edition: IFS Food Version 8

Who is IFS Food intended for?

IFS Food is intended for companies that process, manufacture, or package food—particularly manufacturers of private-label products for the food retail sector. The standard is particularly widespread in the German, French, and Southern European retail sectors, where many retailers require valid IFS certification as a prerequisite for inclusion in their supplier portfolio.

Overview of core requirements

Corporate responsibility: management's commitment to food safety and quality
HACCP system: systematic hazard analysis and monitoring of critical control points
Quality and food safety management: documented Processes, Specifications, and Approvals
Resource management: hygiene, training, and staff qualifications
Production process: control of raw materials, packaging, traceability, and foreign object management
Measurements, analyses, and improvements: internal audits, complaint management, and crisis management

Differences from BRCGS and FSSC 22000

IFS, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 are all food safety standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) with comparable levels of rigor. IFS is particularly widespread in the German-speaking and French retail sectors, BRCGS is more common in the British market, while FSSC 22000 is based on the ISO 22000 framework and is more widely recognized internationally. Since individual retail partners require different standards, many manufacturers are certified to several of these standards simultaneously. The overlap in content allows for a largely common documentation framework.

Consequences of noncompliance

A critical nonconformity or a score below the Foundation Level threshold results in failure of the audit and directly jeopardizes a company’s listing with retail partners. Since many retailers treat IFS as an exclusion criterion, failing an audit can lead to the loss of existing business relationships in the short term – with corresponding revenue losses until a successful follow-up audit is completed.

Frequently asked questions about IFS

Is IFS required by law?

No. However, retail partners often require certification as a condition for listing in their contracts.

What is the difference between IFS and BRCGS?

Both are GFSI-recognized standards with very similar content – IFS is more widely used in the German-speaking and French retail sectors, while BRCGS is more common in the British retail sector.

How is an IFS audit evaluated?

Using a grading scale (A through D, Major, KO), which results in a percentage score and a classification as Higher Level or Foundation Level.

Who conducts the certification?

Only independent certification bodies approved by IFS Management.

Successfully implementing IFS

The greatest effort lies in maintaining complete, audit-ready documentation of HACCP measurements, cleaning records, and batch traceability at all times. IFS audits are often conducted on short notice. Connected worker platforms like weasl automatically record CCP measurements, cleaning approvals, and batch data as part of daily operations and provide the required documentation at the click of a button, rather than having to gather it all together at the last minute before an audit.

Learn more about weasl and request our product flyer now.

IFS Food