Standards Comparison

    IFS Food

    Voluntary
    2023

    GFSI-benchmarked standard for food manufacturing safety and quality

    VS

    GDPR UK

    Mandatory
    2016

    UK regulation for personal data protection compliance

    Quick Verdict

    IFS Food ensures food safety certification for manufacturers via annual audits, while GDPR UK mandates personal data protection across sectors with hefty fines. Food firms adopt IFS for retailer access; all adopt GDPR for legal compliance and trust.

    Food Safety

    IFS Food

    IFS Food Version 8 Standard

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) audits
    • Minimum 50% audit time in production areas
    • 10 Knock-Out requirements blocking certification instantly
    • Annual audits with mandatory unannounced frequency
    • Integrated food fraud and defense vulnerability assessments
    Data Privacy

    GDPR UK

    UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Seven enforceable data processing principles
    • Comprehensive individual data subject rights
    • Accountability requiring demonstrable compliance
    • 72-hour ICO breach notification obligation
    • Mandatory DPIAs for high-risk processing

    Detailed Analysis

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

    IFS Food Details

    What It Is

    IFS Food Version 8 is a GFSI-benchmarked certification standard for auditing food manufacturers' product and process compliance. It ensures safe, legal, authentic products meeting customer specifications via a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA).

    Key Components

    • Organized into governance, HACCP/PRPs, operational controls, performance monitoring.
    • Over 200 checklist requirements with 10 Knock-Out (KO) criteria.
    • Built on HACCP, PRPs, food fraud/defense; annual certification model with scoring (Higher/Foundation levels).

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Meets European retailer demands for market access.
    • Reduces audit duplication, enhances supply chain trust.
    • Manages risks like recalls, fraud; builds food safety culture.
    • Provides competitive edge via Star status from unannounced audits.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, audits.
    • Applies to food processing sites globally; requires ISO 17065-accredited bodies.
    • 6-12 months typical; emphasizes on-site verification, traceability tests.

    GDPR UK Details

    What It Is

    The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is the United Kingdom's post-Brexit adaptation of the EU GDPR, integrated with the Data Protection Act 2018. This binding regulation governs personal data processing, applying to UK-established organizations and those targeting UK individuals extraterritorially. It adopts a risk-based, accountability-driven approach emphasizing demonstrable compliance.

    Key Components

    • **Seven core principleslawfulness, fairness, purpose limitation, minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity/confidentiality, accountability.
    • **Data subject rightsaccess, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, automated decisions.
    • Controller/processor duties: RoPAs, contracts, DPIAs, security, 72-hour breach notifications. No fixed controls; ICO enforces via fines up to 4% global turnover.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory legal compliance to avoid fines (£17.5M max).
    • Manages risks from breaches, rights mishandling.
    • Builds stakeholder trust, enables ethical data use.
    • Competitive edge in privacy-conscious markets.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased roadmap: governance setup, data mapping/RoPA, policies/training, DPIAs/security, audits. Suits all sizes/industries handling UK data; ongoing ICO oversight, no formal certification.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    IFS Food
    Food manufacturing processes and safety
    GDPR UK
    Personal data processing and privacy

    Industry

    IFS Food
    Food producers, global retailers
    GDPR UK
    All sectors handling UK personal data

    Nature

    IFS Food
    Voluntary GFSI certification standard
    GDPR UK
    Mandatory legal regulation enforced by ICO

    Testing

    IFS Food
    Annual on-site product/process audits
    GDPR UK
    DPIAs, internal audits, ICO investigations

    Penalties

    IFS Food
    Certification loss, no legal fines
    GDPR UK
    Fines up to 4% global turnover

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about IFS Food and GDPR UK

    IFS Food FAQ

    GDPR UK FAQ

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