What is the primary objective of **COPPA**?

**The primary objective of COPPA is to protect the privacy of children under 13 years old by restricting operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices from collecting, using, or disclosing their personal information without verifiable parental consent.** Enacted in 1998 and effective April 21, 2000, COPPA mandates comprehensive privacy policies, data minimization, parental access/review/deletion rights, and data security, enforced by the FTC under 16 CFR Part 312.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **COPPA**?

**Operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices that are directed to children under 13 or have actual knowledge of collecting personal information from them must comply with COPPA.** This includes entities benefiting from data collection like ad networks; non-profits are exempt if not commercial, but it applies extraterritorially to services targeting U.S. children.

Does **COPPA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**COPPA does not mandate external audits or third-party certification for all operators, but participation in FTC-approved safe harbor programs (e.g., iKeepSafe or ESRB) involves self-regulatory audits.** Operators must ensure internal compliance with verifiable parental consent, data security, and policies, with safe harbors providing FTC-approved alternatives to direct enforcement.

How often should an assessment for **COPPA** be performed?

**COPPA does not prescribe a fixed frequency for assessments, but operators should conduct regular internal reviews, particularly after the 2013 amendments or changes in operations, to verify compliance with evolving FTC guidance and Federal Register notices.** Ongoing monitoring is essential for actual knowledge thresholds, data practices, and safe harbor requirements.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **COPPA**?

**Non-compliance with COPPA results in civil penalties up to $43,792 per violation, enforced by the FTC as unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act, with state AGs able to sue.** High-profile cases include YouTube's $170 million fine in 2019 for unconsented tracking on child-directed content.

Can **COPPA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, COPPA's principles of parental consent, data minimization, and child privacy protections can be mapped to other international frameworks, though it remains a standalone U.S. federal law.** Its under-13 age threshold and verifiable consent mechanisms align with global child data rules, aiding multinational operators.

What is the first step to begin implementing **COPPA**?

**The first step to implement COPPA is to conduct an audience analysis to determine if your service is directed to children under 13 or has actual knowledge of their data collection, based on content, features, and user signals.** Follow with posting a comprehensive privacy policy and designing verifiable parental consent mechanisms.

What is the primary objective of **IFS Food**?

**IFS Food's primary objective is to audit product and process compliance, ensuring manufacturers produce safe, legal products that meet customer specifications.** Version 8 (mandatory from 1 January 2024) uses a **Product and Process Approach (PPA)** with risk-based product sampling, traceability tests, and at least 50% on-site audit time in production areas to verify food safety, quality, legality, authenticity, and integrity via HACCP, PRPs, and operational controls like food fraud (4.20) and food defense (4.21).

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **IFS Food**?

**IFS Food applies to food product manufacturers processing food or packing loose products where contamination risk exists.** It is site-specific (one legal entity, one address, one certificate), covering all site products/processes with limited exclusions. Retailers, especially European private-label buyers, professionally require it for supplier approval; fully outsourced/traded products need IFS Broker instead.

Does **IFS Food** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, IFS Food mandates external audits by ISO/IEC 17065-accredited certification bodies using approved auditors.** Audits are annual full recertifications via PPA, with types including initial (after ≥3 months operations), follow-up (for Majors), and extensions (for seasonal lines). Unannounced audits occur at least every third audit; denial withdraws certificates within 2 days.

How often should an assessment for **IFS Food** be performed?

**IFS Food requires full recertification audits every 12 months.** Internal audits (KO 5.1.1) must cover the full scope annually, risk-based (e.g., quarterly). Management reviews occur at least annually, verifying prior action plans, KPIs, and improvements.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **IFS Food**?

**Non-compliance triggers scoring deductions, certificate denial/withdrawal, and follow-up audits.** KO "D" scores deduct 50% (blocks certification); Majors deduct 15%. Recertification failures withdraw certificates within 2 days, notify stakeholders via database, and may require "new initial" audits. Unresolved issues limit to Foundation Level (≥75% score).

Can **IFS Food** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, IFS Food Version 8 is GFSI-benchmarked, aligning with schemes like BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and SQF on HACCP, PRPs, and governance.** It shares annual audits but differs in ISO 17065 accreditation, PPA focus, and scoring (Higher Level ≥95%, Foundation ≥75%). Use for market-access decisions matching customer/retailer preferences.

What is the first step to begin implementing **IFS Food**?

**The first step is conducting a comprehensive gap analysis against IFS Food v8 and Doctrine using the audit checklist.** Appoint senior management sponsorship, define site-specific scope (products/processes), disclose to an accredited certification body, and prioritize KO requirements like governance (1.2.1) and traceability (4.18.1).

COPPA vs IFS Food

Standards Comparison

COPPA

Mandatory

1998

U.S. law requiring parental consent for children's online data

IFS Food

Voluntary

2023

Global standard for food safety and process compliance.

Quick Verdict

COPPA mandates parental consent for children's online data to protect kids under 13, enforced by FTC fines. IFS Food certifies food manufacturers' processes for safety and quality via annual audits. Companies adopt COPPA for legal compliance, IFS for retailer market access.

Children Privacy

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Mandates verifiable parental consent for children's data
Protects children under 13 on child-directed services
Expansive PII including persistent IDs, geolocation data
Imposes FTC penalties up to $43,792 per violation
Grants parents data review, deletion rights

Food Safety

IFS Food

IFS Food Version 8

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) audits
Minimum 50% on-site production evaluation time
10 Knock-Out requirements for certification
Annual audits with unannounced options
Food fraud and defense vulnerability assessments

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

COPPA Details

What It Is

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1998 and effective 2000. Administered by the FTC, it safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized collection of personal information by operators of commercial websites, apps, and services directed to kids or with actual knowledge of child users. Its strict approach mandates verifiable parental consent prior to any data collection, use, or disclosure.

Key Components

Verifiable parental consent via 11+ methods (e.g., credit card, video calls).
Broad personal information definition: names, addresses, persistent identifiers (IP, device IDs), geolocation, audio/video files.
Requirements for privacy notices, data security, parental access/review/deletion, and data minimization.
Compliance via direct adherence or FTC-approved safe harbors like ESRB or iKeepSafe.

Why Organizations Use It

Essential for legal compliance to avoid penalties up to $43,792 per violation (e.g., YouTube's $170M fine). Mitigates risks from edtech, gaming, IoT; builds parent trust; enables global operations targeting U.S. kids. Enhances reputation amid rising enforcement.

Implementation Overview

Operators assess child-directed status, deploy age screens/VPC mechanisms, post policies, secure data. Applies to all sizes in relevant industries worldwide. Safe harbor audits recommended; involves training, third-party reviews. Typical for 6-12 months rollout.

IFS Food Details

What It Is

IFS Food Version 8 is a GFSI-benchmarked certification standard for auditing product and process compliance in food manufacturing. It applies to sites processing food or packing loose products with contamination risks, using a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) emphasizing on-site verification.

Key Components

Organized into governance, HACCP/PRPs, operational controls (e.g., allergens, fraud, defense), and performance monitoring.
Over 200 checklist requirements with 10 Knock-Out (KO) criteria.
Built on HACCP, PRPs, and integrity programs.
Annual audits with scoring (Higher/Foundation levels) via accredited bodies.

Why Organizations Use It

Meets European retailer demands for private-label supply.
Reduces audit duplication, enhances market access.
Manages risks like recalls, fraud; builds trust.
Drives efficiency, continuous improvement.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, audits.
Suits manufacturers globally; site-specific.
Requires 6-12 months, internal audits, unannounced options. (178 words)

Key Differences

Aspect	COPPA	IFS Food
Scope	Children's online privacy and data collection under 13	Food manufacturing safety, quality, legality
Industry	Online services, apps, websites targeting kids; US/global	Food processors, packers; global esp. Europe
Nature	Mandatory US federal law enforced by FTC	Voluntary GFSI certification standard
Testing	FTC enforcement investigations, no routine audits	Annual on-site product/process audits
Penalties	$43,792 per violation, e.g. YouTube $170M	Certification denial/withdrawal, no fines

Scope

COPPA

Children's online privacy and data collection under 13

IFS Food

Food manufacturing safety, quality, legality

Industry

COPPA

Online services, apps, websites targeting kids; US/global

IFS Food

Food processors, packers; global esp. Europe

Nature

COPPA

Mandatory US federal law enforced by FTC

IFS Food

Voluntary GFSI certification standard

Testing

COPPA

FTC enforcement investigations, no routine audits

IFS Food

Annual on-site product/process audits

Penalties

COPPA

$43,792 per violation, e.g. YouTube $170M

IFS Food

Certification denial/withdrawal, no fines

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COPPA and IFS Food

COPPA FAQ

IFS Food FAQ

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COPPA

IFS Food

Quick Verdict

COPPA

Key Features

IFS Food

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

COPPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

IFS Food Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

COPPA FAQ

What is the primary objective of COPPA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with COPPA?

Does COPPA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for COPPA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with COPPA?

Can COPPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing COPPA?

IFS Food FAQ

What is the primary objective of IFS Food?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with IFS Food?

Does IFS Food require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for IFS Food be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with IFS Food?

Can IFS Food be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing IFS Food?

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EPA vs SQF

HITRUST CSF vs ISO 27017

CCPA vs PRINCE2