IFS Food
GFSI standard for food safety and quality manufacturing
ISO 19600
International guidelines for compliance management systems.
Quick Verdict
IFS Food ensures food safety certification for manufacturers via rigorous audits, while ISO 19600 provides CMS guidelines for broad compliance risks. Food firms adopt IFS for retailer access; all organizations use ISO 19600 for governance and risk frameworks.
IFS Food
IFS Food Version 8
Key Features
- Product and Process Approach with traceability tests
- Minimum 50% audit time in production areas
- Risk-based HACCP and fraud/defense requirements
- Annual audits with unannounced Star status
- KO criteria and scored certification levels
ISO 19600
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance management systems — Guidelines
Key Features
- Risk-based compliance obligations and assessment
- Good governance principles with independence
- PDCA cycle mirroring Annex SL structure
- Proportionality scalable to all organizations
- Integration with existing management systems
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 framework for food manufacturers. It audits product and process compliance ensuring safety, quality, legality, authenticity, and customer specs. Uses risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) with on-site verification.
Key Components
- Governance, HACCP/PRPs, operational controls across 5 sections
- 200+ checklist requirements, 10 Knock-Out (KO) criteria
- Built on HACCP, IPM, food fraud/defense assessments
- Annual site-specific audits with Higher/Foundation scoring levels
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandated by European retailers for private-label access
- Reduces duplicate audits, builds supply chain trust
- Mitigates recall/fraud risks, enhances resilience
- Provides competitive Star status via unannounced audits
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, validation, training, internal audits
- Targets global food processors, site-specific
- Accredited CB audits mandatory annually
ISO 19600 Details
What It Is
ISO 19600:2014 — Compliance management systems — Guidelines is a Type B guidance standard from the International Organization for Standardization. It provides recommendations for establishing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving a Compliance Management System (CMS). The risk-based approach applies universally across organization sizes, sectors, and geographies, using a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) structure aligned with Annex SL.
Key Components
- 10 clauses covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement.
- Core principles: good governance, proportionality, transparency, sustainability.
- Focus on compliance obligations identification, risk assessment, controls, training, monitoring.
- Non-certifiable; used for internal benchmarking.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates legal, regulatory, reputational risks; reduces penalties and disruptions.
- Drives operational efficiency, market access, cultural integrity.
- Enhances stakeholder trust, competitive edge; precursor to ISO 37301 certification.
Implementation Overview
- **Phased roadmapleadership commitment, gap analysis, design, rollout, continuous improvement.
- Scalable for SMEs to MNCs, all industries; integrates with ISO 9001/14001.
- No formal certification; self-assessment and internal audits suffice. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | IFS Food | ISO 19600 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Food safety, quality, processes in manufacturing | General compliance obligations, risk management across organizations |
| Industry | Food manufacturing, primarily European retailers | All industries, sectors, organization sizes globally |
| Nature | GFSI-benchmarked certification standard, voluntary | Non-certifiable guidelines, now withdrawn for ISO 37301 |
| Testing | Annual on-site product/process audits, traceability tests | Internal audits, management reviews, no formal certification |
| Penalties | Certification loss, no legal penalties | No direct penalties, reputational/regulatory exposure |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IFS Food and ISO 19600
IFS Food FAQ
ISO 19600 FAQ
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