International Food Standard (IFS) history 

 Over the years, has become a retail supplier audit systems and procedures, a constant feature. Until 2003, these audits by each retailer and wholesaler of quality assurance departments to implement. Increasingly demanding consumers, retailers and wholesalers of increasing responsibility, legal requirements and the increasing globalization of product offerings, which have allowed the development of a uniform quality assurance and food safety standards is inevitable. In addition, for retailers and suppliers must find time to reduce the number of audit solutions. 

 German Retail Federation (HDE) on members of the corresponding bodies with her in France - Business and Distribution Enterprise Alliance (FCD) on members of the drafting of retailer brand food quality and food safety standards, named the International Food Standard (IFS). The standard method used to adopt a unified food safety and supplier quality system assessment. This standard applies to all "out of the farm" after all aspects of food processing. 

 IFS is the third edition of the standard drafted by the HDE, and promulgated in 2003. January 2004, HDE and FCD in conjunction with the design and promotion of standards with an updated version - Fourth Edition. In the period 2005 to 2006, the Italian retailers association also interested in international food standards. The development of new food standards IFS (Fifth Edition) is Germany, France and Italy a collaboration of three Retailers Association. 

 The basic goal of international food standards are: 

 ? Establish a uniform system of common standards of evaluation; 

 * And the accredited certification bodies and auditors qualified to work together; 

 ? In the entire supply chain, to ensure comparability and transparency; 

 * Suppliers and retailers to reduce the cost of both time and cost. 

 Experience and legislative changes, leading to the demand for revision of the standard Fourth Edition. We first prepare a detailed and wide-ranging questionnaire, so that all users can participate in international food standards to improve the process. January 2006 to 3 months, the questionnaire available online so that all stakeholders can participate. Completed questionnaires for all we have conducted a detailed analysis. 

 Through the analysis of all issues so that we identified the following objectives. These goals become the basis for the fourth edition to modify the standard IFS. These goals are: 

 * By removing duplicate content, thereby reducing the number of terms; 

 ? Check the contents of the requirements of intelligibility; 

 * The standard to meet the current law; 

 * Use simple language to write standards; 

 * All sections of the fourth edition of the IFS standards for comprehensive change; 

 * Review score system. 



 July 2006 to January 2007, Germany and Italy were set by the French subsidiary of the Working Group on the results of the questionnaire have been studied, and proceeded to detail the drafting of new standards. Thoroughly revised standard not only in the target has been mentioned, but also made many new changes. Therefore, the new standard is the fourth edition has done major changes to the standard, obtained by the standard. There are new features of the new standards are as follows: 

 ? A generic checklist, based on the standard level and is no longer a difference between the high level; 

 * No longer have any recommended level requirements; 

 * Raised more associated with the risk analysis requirements and procedures for processing more attention; 

 * The new scoring system makes it easier to compare the results, but also makes the company being audited increase the transparency between; 

 * The audit cycle to 12 months; 

 ? To pay attention to food safety, increasing the KO does not meet the entry requirements; 

 * The audit bodies, certification bodies and auditors require more detailed. 

 In view of the status quo version of the standard adopted, the new standard will be designated by the transition period. During the transition period, companies can continue to review the standard Fourth Edition. December 31, 2007, the company can opt for the fourth edition of the review, also choose to press the fifth edition of the review. However, after 1 January 2008, only the fifth edition of the standards by IFS audits in order to be accepted.