Standards Comparison

    IFS Food

    Voluntary
    2023

    GFSI standard for food safety and quality compliance

    VS

    MAS TRM

    Mandatory
    2021

    Singapore guidelines for financial technology risk management

    Quick Verdict

    IFS Food ensures safe food manufacturing via GFSI audits for global retailers, while MAS TRM mandates cyber resilience governance for Singapore FIs. Food firms adopt IFS for market access; banks use TRM to avoid fines and outages.

    Food Safety

    IFS Food

    IFS Food Standard Version 8

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

    Key Features

    • Product and Process Approach with traceability tests
    • Minimum 50% audit time in production areas
    • Annual full audits with unannounced option
    • Risk-based HACCP and operational controls
    • 10 Knock-Out requirements for certification
    Technology Risk Management

    MAS TRM

    MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines

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

    Key Features

    • Board and senior management accountability
    • Risk-based proportional controls
    • Third-party risk management requirements
    • Annual penetration testing for internet systems
    • Defence-in-depth cyber resilience

    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 focuses on food safety, quality, legality, authenticity, and customer requirements using a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA).

    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 principles, prerequisite programs, and annual audits.
    • Scoring system (A/B/C/D) with Higher/Foundation levels.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enables market access for European retailers and private labels.
    • Reduces duplicate audits, enhances supply chain trust.
    • Manages risks like recalls, fraud, and contamination.
    • Builds competitive edge via Star status from unannounced audits.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, certification audit.
    • Applies to food processors/packers globally, site-specific.
    • Requires accredited certification bodies, annual recertification, minimum 50% on-site audit time. (178 words)

    MAS TRM Details

    What It Is

    MAS Technology Risk Management (TRM) Guidelines (January 2021) are supervisory guidelines issued by Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for financial institutions. This risk-based framework promotes sound practices for managing technology and cyber risks, emphasizing governance, resilience, and defence-in-depth across IT operations.

    Key Components

    • Covers 15 sections: governance, asset management, SDLC, IT service management, resilience, access control, cryptography, cyber operations, testing, and audit.
    • No fixed controls; proportional to risk/complexity.
    • Core principles: board accountability, CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability), continuous improvement.
    • Compliance via supervisory review, no formal certification.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mandatory for MAS-regulated FIs to avoid fines, license issues.
    • Enhances resilience, reduces cyber incidents, builds trust.
    • Supports digital transformation while mitigating systemic risks.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: governance setup, asset inventory, control deployment, testing.
    • Targets banks, insurers, fintechs in Singapore.
    • Involves audits, board reporting; scalable by FI size.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    IFS Food
    Food manufacturing processes, safety, quality, fraud/defense
    MAS TRM
    Financial IT/cyber risk governance, resilience, third-party

    Industry

    IFS Food
    Global food manufacturers, retailers (GFSI)
    MAS TRM
    Singapore financial institutions (banks, insurers)

    Nature

    IFS Food
    GFSI-benchmarked certification, annual audits
    MAS TRM
    Supervisory guidelines, proportional enforcement

    Testing

    IFS Food
    On-site PPA audits, traceability tests, 50% production time
    MAS TRM
    Annual PT internet systems, VA, red-team exercises

    Penalties

    IFS Food
    Certification denial, KO failures block issuance
    MAS TRM
    Fines, license revocation, executive prohibitions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about IFS Food and MAS TRM

    IFS Food FAQ

    MAS TRM FAQ

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