IFS Food
GFSI-benchmarked standard for food safety and quality
SAMA CSF
Saudi framework for financial cybersecurity maturity
Quick Verdict
IFS Food ensures food safety certification for global manufacturers via annual audits, while SAMA CSF mandates cybersecurity maturity for Saudi financial firms through self-assessments. Food companies adopt IFS for retailer access; banks use SAMA to avoid fines and build resilience.
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 operational controls
- Annual full audits with scoring levels
- Knock-Out requirements for critical failures
SAMA CSF
SAMA Cyber Security Framework Version 1.0
Key Features
- Six-level cyber security maturity model
- Four domains with detailed subdomains
- Board-level governance and CISO requirements
- Risk-based principle-oriented controls
- Third-party security and outsourcing mandates
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, integrated pest management, and annual management reviews.
- Annual site-specific certification with scoring (Higher/Foundation levels).
Why Organizations Use It
- Meets European retailer demands for private-label suppliers.
- Reduces duplicate audits, enhances supply chain trust.
- Manages risks like recalls, fraud, and contamination.
- Provides competitive market access and operational efficiency.
Implementation Overview
- Phased gap analysis, FSMS design, training, validation, internal audits.
- Targets food manufacturers globally; suits various sizes.
- Requires ISO 17065-accredited audits, unannounced options for Star status.
SAMA CSF Details
What It Is
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Cyber Security Framework (SAMA CSF, Version 1.0, May 2017) is a mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia. It prescribes governance, controls, and a cyber security maturity model to detect, resist, respond to, and recover from cyber threats, using a principle-based, risk-oriented approach.
Key Components
- Four main domains: Leadership & Governance, Risk Management & Compliance, Operations & Technology, Third-Party Security.
- Numerous subdomains with principles, objectives, and control considerations (over 100 subcontrols).
- Built on NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS; six-level maturity model (Level 3 minimum).
- Self-assessment and SAMA audits for compliance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for banks, insurers, finance firms to avoid penalties, audits.
- Enhances resilience, reduces incidents, improves efficiency.
- Builds trust, enables partnerships, competitive edge in digital finance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, control roadmap, deployment, monitoring.
- Targets all SAMA entities; board sponsorship essential.
- Periodic self-assessments, no external certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | IFS Food | SAMA CSF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Food safety, quality, processes in manufacturing | Cybersecurity across financial operations, technology |
| Industry | Global food manufacturers, retailers | Saudi financial institutions only |
| Nature | GFSI-benchmarked voluntary certification | Mandatory regulatory framework |
| Testing | Annual on-site product/process audits | Periodic self-assessments, SAMA audits |
| Penalties | Certification denial, no legal fines | Fines, license suspension, enforcement |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IFS Food and SAMA CSF
IFS Food FAQ
SAMA CSF FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
The Tool Landscape for Reaching and Maintaining ISO 27701 Compliance
Discover the top tools for ISO 27701 compliance. Compare functionality, complexity, costs, and benefits to choose the best solution for your privacy program. Ac
From Reactive Gatekeeper to Proactive Strategist: How Compliance Software Reshapes the Compliance Professional's Day
Discover how compliance software automates monitoring, delivers real-time insights, and transforms compliance pros from reactive gatekeepers to proactive strate
CIS Controls v8.1, Operationalized: Top 10 Reasons Compliance Monitoring Software Accelerates Real-World Implementation
Operationalize CIS Controls v8.1 with compliance monitoring software. Turn checklists into dashboards, tickets, and audit-proof workflows. Top 10 reasons it acc
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
ISO 20000 vs IFS Food
Dive into ISO 20000 vs IFS Food: IT service management meets food safety standards. Uncover key differences, benefits & strategies to boost compliance success now!
CE Marking vs ISO 20000
Compare CE Marking vs ISO 20000: Product safety declaration or IT service management cert? Uncover key differences, requirements & benefits for EU compliance. Dive in now!
EMAS vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023
Explore EMAS vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023: EU's premium EMS for verified compliance & eco-performance vs world's first AI governance standard. Key differences, benefits & strategic edge!