Author: cert

The IFS Integrity Program includes several measures to ensure the highest quality and reliability of the IFS certification system. One of these measures is the Integrity On-site Check, which is typically conducted unannounced. These checks can be initiated based on a complaint or scheduled by IFS Quality Assurance using a risk-based approach.

Key Points of Integrity On-site Checks:

• Result Outcomes:
• An Integrity On-site Check can result in either a “passed” (with or without deviations) or “failed” outcome.
• No percentage scores or levels are assigned during these checks
• Deviations and Corrective Actions
• If the check is passed with deviations, corrections and corrective measures must be implemented, similar to a regular IFS audit.
• As your certification body, we are fully responsible for reviewing and approving these corrections and corrective actions, including determining the extent of the review
• Failed Outcome
• If the check is assessed as “failed,” we are obligated to decide on your certification status, which may include suspending or withdrawing your IFS certificate from the IFS Portal.
• Any actions required to reinstate or obtain a new certificate will need to be clarified with us.
• Timeline for Corrective Action Plan (CAP):

In cases where Non-Conformities (NCs) are identified by the Integrity assessor, you must submit a corrective action plan within 7 days of receiving the IFS report.

• The CAP must include:

• Details of corrections implemented.
• Evidence of corrections.
• Planned or already implemented corrective actions.

• Importance of Timely Action:

This process is critical for maintaining your existing certificate. Prompt submission of a high-quality CAP is essential to prevent delays and avoid further clarification requests. Your cooperation in adhering to the timeline and ensuring a thorough CAP is highly appreciated.

In February 2025, IFS introduced the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check, an innovative tool designed to help suppliers better understand and manage risks within their supply chains. This tool enables verification of the existence and effectiveness of processes to identify and monitor supply chain disruptions, challenges, and fraudulent activities.

The IFS Processes Check helps minimize business risks, identify improvement opportunities, increase transparency, and strengthen overall business resilience.

We are excited to share that we already have qualified auditors available for IFS Processes Checks. Stay tuned for further updates!

Don’t miss our latest article in VMT magazine, where we share insights and tips to maximize the value of your audits. Check it out today!

Food safety audits go beyond mere compliance – they represent an opportunity for growth and a vital tool for continuous improvement. At Certima, we view audits as a means to identify systemic issues and uncover root causes, empowering companies to enhance food safety, reduce risks, and build trust. However, the true value of audit findings lies in taking decisive action to address them.

Vladislava Zapryanova, founder and MD of Certima: “The real value of an audit lies in the actions taken afterwards – and it is these actions that ensure meaningful progress.”

Read the whole article HERE.

Dear customers,

We are excited to share the unrivalled results from our customer feedback survey for audits performed in year 2024. Our customers rate us at 8,99 from 10. This result is based on 81 reviews of Certima customers. The majority submitted their feedback in December 2024 and January 2025. Check out our full customer feedback survey report here. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the trust and loyal cooperation over the past year.

At Certima, we believe the certification process should be straightforward and supportive. That’s why we’ve developed an auditing methodology that not only ensures compliance but also gives you insights to improve your processes and systems. We perform independent, unbiased audits with objectivity, fostering continuous improvement of our customers’ processes. Our process is designed to be clear, transparent, and efficient, supporting the wellbeing of people.

Our approach goes beyond ticking the boxes. We create long-term value for your business by ensuring the certification process strengthens your operations while meeting industry requirements. At Certima, we support you every step of the way, making the journey clear, practical, and beneficial.

We understand compliance is key, but we also know that the right certification can open doors to new opportunities and build trust with your customers. That’s why we focus on making the process smooth and transparent, so you can focus on running your business.

Here’s how our certification process works ⬇️:

1️. Application Stage
You submit an application form with detailed information about your products and technologies. Once reviewed, we define the scope, duration, send an offer and assign a qualified auditor.

2️. Scheduling Stage
After signing the agreement, we schedule your audit. The auditor must observe all products and technology categories within your scope, and we remain flexible to fit your certification timeframe having an available auditor capacity.

3️. Audit Preparation
To ensure an efficient audit, we request key documents in advance, such as your HACCP plan, organizational chart, process flow diagram, certification and recall history.

4️. On-Site Audit
We ensure that our customers meet international standards’, regulatory and client requirements through rigorous compliance. We identify strengths and areas for improvement, providing an End of Audit Letter documenting any non-conformities.

5️. Detailed Reporting
A detailed report is provided after the audit, highlighting non-conformities observed by the auditor.

6️. Corrective Actions
You have 14 days to submit a corrective action plan, specifying steps to eliminate non-conformities and prevent recurrence.

7️. Approval of Corrective Actions
The auditor reviews and approves your corrective actions. If actions are inadequate, we return the plan for revision. This process must be completed within 28 days.

8️. Report Review and Certification Decision
After final review, if criteria are met, we issue your certification, confirming that your business complies with standard requirements.

If you’re ready to explore how Certima can help you achieve certification and enhance your business’s credibility, feel free to reach out. Let’s connect and make this journey as seamless possible for you.

We’re excited to bring you an interactive and insightful session, designed with you in mind!

📅 Join us on 8th November 2024 for a deep dive into the latest updates and strategies to keep your FSMS running smoothly and future-proof.

• Date: 8.11.2024
• Start time: 9 CET
• End time: 12 CET
• Trainer: Anton Hartog

Here’s what’s on for you :

• The newest updates in IFS Food 8 & BRCGS Food Safety 9
• Common FSMS issues and practical solutions
• Tackling non-conformities with root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Building a strong food safety culture
• Managing food safety incidents with confidence
• Plus, updates on IFS Logistics ver. 3 and IFS Broker ver. 3.2

Why should you join?🤔

This isn’t just another event – it’s your chance to learn, share your experiences, and ensure your food safety management system is prepared for the future.

Want to stay ahead of the game? Then, register now : https://forms.gle/WtcPuQe9mCpQPSnx8

If you want to apply for an offer, please visit: https://certima.org/offer/

We look forward to having you with us!

Dear customers and partners,

We would like to inform you that we have already in our portfolio an additional service for our IFS Logistics certified customers – QS quality scheme for food (QS Quality and Safety GmbH).

Logistics companies handling fruit, vegetables and potatoes as well as storage companies handling meat and meat products can obtain a delivery authorization to the QS system by recognizing the IFS Logistics Standard without the performance of any additional inspection on the top of their IFS Logistics annual certification audit.  For this purpose, you can register yourselves in the QS software platform and select Certima BV as your certification body and we will confirm the validity of your current IFS Logistics certificate in the QS database.

Further information can be found here: https://www.q-s.de/

If you are interested in this service and want to receive more information about our terms and conditions, please contact us at: customerservice@certima.org

The new version 3.2. of the IFS Broker standard was released on 29.02.2024. IFS Broker version 3.2. audits become mandatory from 1.07.2024.

The most significant modification concerns the scoring system. Following the other IFS Standards, the B-score is now a deviation again, requiring a correction or corrective action by the audited company.
These updates contribute to greater transparency as customers and other stakeholders of the audited company can easily recognise how the audit was carried out. Furthermore, the report shows which deviation led to the B-score and the action plan specifies what needs to be done to correct the deviation. This creates greater clarity for everyone involved.

As many IFS audits are combined audits with other IFS Standards, it was essential for IFS to align version 3.2 with the other updated IFS Standards, especially IFS Food 8 and IFS Logistics 3. The revisions significantly facilitate the performance of combined IFS Audits.

In IFS Broker 3.2, IFS also introduce the star status, signaling that the audit was unannounced.
Although the changes in the requirements are just a few, the auditing approach and grading of deviations challenges the audited companies to adopt a much deeper understanding and implementation of these requirements into their food safety management system.

• Download IFS Broker 3.2
• Download the updated IFS Scoring System Brochure

The new version 3 of the IFS Logistics standard was released on 6.12.2023.

IFS Logistics version 3 audits are possible starting 1 June 2024 and become mandatory on 1 December 2024.

In general, the applicability of version 2.3 ends on 30 November 2024. However, version 2.3 can apply after 1 December 2024 in some exceptional situations (multi-location, follow-up and extension audits).

For unannounced audits version 3 applies when the audit window starts on or after 1 October 2024.

IFS Logistics version 3 has fewer requirements and an optimized protocol and structure. Further updates concern the scoring system, extensions and clarifications in the scopes, and introduction of the star status to indicate an unannounced audit. It is now aligned with the IFS Food Standard version 8, which is relevant for combined audits.

The most significant changes are:

• Fewer requirements, an optimized protocol, and a structure that consequently follows the audit path.
• A new scope for animal feed is added and IFS introduced two more logistics processing services: simple sorting of fruits and vegetables and labelling.
• The IFS Logistics scope is extended and clarified, especially for short-term storage/transport of containers, organizing logistics activities and exclusion rules.
• Partly outsourced logistics processing services are included in the standard.
• The B-score is again classified as a deviation, so businesses can define a correction and corrective action to improve their performance continuously.
• The new IFS Star status indicates that the audit was unannounced. Supply chain partners can immediately see that the certified company stands out.
• Alignment with the Codex Alimentarius and ISO/IEC 17065, GFSI Benchmarking Requirements and considers ISO22003-2.

More information you can find here:

IFS_Logistics_v3_launch_newsletter_for_industry_EN_1701859182.pdf (ifs-certification.com)

At Certima, we will be taking swift action to update our processes and incorporate the changes, and we will be providing certification for the standard as soon as it comes into effect.

We will launch soon numerous communications and events to inform you accordingly about the changes that the IFS Logistics certified companies should effectuate in their FSMS prior to their IFS Logistics ver. 3 audits.