Standards Comparison

    ISO 31000

    Voluntary
    2018

    International guidelines for enterprise risk management

    VS

    IFS Food

    Voluntary
    2023

    GFSI standard for food safety and process compliance

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 31000 offers voluntary risk management guidelines for all organizations, enhancing decision-making universally. IFS Food mandates certifiable food safety audits for manufacturers, ensuring compliance with retailer specs. Companies adopt ISO 31000 for resilience; IFS Food for market access.

    Risk Management

    ISO 31000

    ISO 31000:2018 Risk management — Guidelines

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

    IFS Food

    IFS Food Version 8

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

    Key Features

    • Product and Process Approach with traceability tests
    • Minimum 50% on-site production area evaluation
    • Risk-based HACCP and KO critical requirements
    • Annual audits with unannounced options
    • Food fraud and defense vulnerability assessments

    Detailed Analysis

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

    ISO 31000 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 31000:2018, Risk management — Guidelines is an international standard providing non-certifiable principles, framework, and process for managing risks. Its primary purpose is systematic handling of uncertainty affecting objectives, applicable to any organization type, size, or sector. It uses a principles-based, iterative approach focused on value creation and protection.

    Key Components

    • **Three pillarsEight principles (e.g., integrated, customized, dynamic), leadership-driven framework (PDCA-like: design, implement, evaluate, improve), and six-step process (communication, scope/context/criteria, assessment, treatment, monitoring/review, recording/reporting).
    • No fixed controls; flexible guidelines emphasizing continual improvement.
    • Non-certifiable; relies on internal governance and audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Enhances decision-making, resilience, and strategic execution; reframes risk as opportunity. Drives compliance alignment, reduces losses, builds stakeholder trust. Offers competitive edge via integrated risk thinking without certification burden.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: leadership commitment, gap analysis, pilot process, enterprise integration, ongoing monitoring. Involves policy, roles, tools like risk registers/GRC platforms. Suited for all sizes/industries; no external certification needed, focuses on cultural embedding.

    IFS Food Details

    What It Is

    IFS Food Version 8 is a GFSI-benchmarked certification framework for food manufacturers, auditing product and process compliance to ensure safe, legal, authentic products meeting customer specs. It uses a risk-based Product and Process Approach (PPA) with on-site verification and traceability tests.

    Key Components

    • Organized into governance, HACCP/PRPs, resources, operations, performance (5 sections, ~200 requirements)
    • 10 Knock-Out (KO) critical items (e.g., traceability, CCP monitoring)
    • Built on HACCP, integrated pest management, food fraud/defense
    • Annual audits by ISO/IEC 17065-accredited bodies; Higher/Foundation levels via scoring

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Essential for European retailer/private-label access
    • Reduces audit duplication, builds supply chain trust
    • Mitigates risks (recalls, contamination, fraud)
    • Enhances food safety culture, operational resilience

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, FSMS build, training, validation, internal audits
    • Site-specific for processors; 6-12 months typical
    • Involves management reviews, unannounced audits optional

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 31000
    Enterprise risk management guidelines
    IFS Food
    Food manufacturing safety/quality compliance

    Industry

    ISO 31000
    All sectors worldwide
    IFS Food
    Food processing/packaging primarily Europe

    Nature

    ISO 31000
    Non-certifiable voluntary guidelines
    IFS Food
    GFSI certifiable audit standard

    Testing

    ISO 31000
    Internal monitoring/reviews
    IFS Food
    Annual on-site product/process audits

    Penalties

    ISO 31000
    No formal penalties
    IFS Food
    Certification withdrawal/loss of market access

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 31000 and IFS Food

    ISO 31000 FAQ

    IFS Food FAQ

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