Standards Comparison

    IFS Food

    Voluntary
    2023

    GFSI standard for food safety and quality compliance

    VS

    ISO 22301

    Voluntary
    2019

    International standard for business continuity management systems

    Quick Verdict

    IFS Food ensures food safety and quality via product audits for manufacturers, while ISO 22301 builds business continuity resilience against disruptions for all organizations. Food firms adopt IFS for retailer access; others use 22301 for operational recovery and trust.

    Food Safety

    IFS Food

    IFS Food Version 8 Standard

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

    Key Features

    • Product and Process Approach with traceability testing
    • Minimum 50% audit time in production areas
    • 10 Knock-Out requirements blocking certification
    • Annual full recertification audits
    • Unannounced audits for Star status
    Business Continuity

    ISO 22301

    ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems — Requirements

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    0-6 months

    Key Features

    • PDCA cycle for continual BCMS improvement
    • Business Impact Analysis (BIA) prioritization
    • Leadership commitment and policy requirements
    • Risk assessment and recovery strategies
    • Regular testing exercises and audits

    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 product and process compliance in food manufacturing. It applies to sites processing food or packing loose products, using a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) with 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, prerequisite programs, and annual management reviews.
    • ISO/IEC 17065-accredited certification with Higher/Foundation levels.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Meets European retailer demands for private-label supply.
    • Reduces duplicate audits, enhances market access.
    • Manages risks like recalls, fraud; builds trust.
    • Drives continuous improvement via scoring and unannounced audits.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, audits.
    • Suits food manufacturers globally; site-specific.
    • Annual audits (50% on-site); 6-12 months typical timeline.

    ISO 22301 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard titled Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements. It specifies requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) to protect against, reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of, and ensure recovery from disruptive incidents. The standard employs a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and Annex SL high-level structure for flexibility and integration with other ISO standards.

    Key Components

    • 10 clauses: Clauses 4-10 form the auditable core covering context, leadership, planning (BIA and risk assessment), support, operation (recovery strategies and testing), performance evaluation (monitoring, audits), and improvement.
    • No prescriptive controls; risk-based and adaptable.
    • Built on PDCA for continual enhancement.
    • Certification model: 3-year validity with annual surveillance audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Organizations adopt it to enhance resilience, minimize financial losses and downtime, ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., NIS Directive), and gain competitive advantages like procurement edges and stakeholder trust. It identifies risks from cyberattacks, disasters, and supply chains, fostering proactive recovery.

    Implementation Overview

    Typical approach includes gap analysis, BIA, training, testing, and two-stage certification (6-8 weeks). Applicable to all sizes, sectors, and geographies; tools accelerate processes for SMEs.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    IFS Food
    Food safety, quality, process compliance in manufacturing
    ISO 22301
    Business continuity, disruption recovery across operations

    Industry

    IFS Food
    Food manufacturers, packers globally
    ISO 22301
    All sectors, sizes worldwide

    Nature

    IFS Food
    GFSI-benchmarked voluntary certification
    ISO 22301
    ISO voluntary certification standard

    Testing

    IFS Food
    Annual product/process audits, traceability tests
    ISO 22301
    BIA, exercises, internal audits, 3-year certification

    Penalties

    IFS Food
    Certification loss, no legal fines
    ISO 22301
    Certification loss, no legal penalties

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about IFS Food and ISO 22301

    IFS Food FAQ

    ISO 22301 FAQ

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