Food safety is a key requirement at all stages of the food supply chain, globally based on Codex Alimentarius HACCP and guaranteed industry-wide through certification schemes established under the GFSI program. To be certified according to one of the GFSI standard is often a pre-requirement to any business relationship along the food supply chain.

The journey towards food safety system certification can be long and complex, sometime too long – especially for small and medium companies strongly depending on factors such as the country economic framework and the food safety awareness level.

That’s why the IFS Progress programmes support the companies willing to improve their food safety system by providing the framework for both capacity building and demonstration to any stakeholder of the commitment to improvement and the actual level of implementation of the company’s food safety system, although not yet fully certified.

IFS Progress is the new brand name of the IFS supplier development programs. The programs are created for small and/or less developed businesses. With IFS Progress, you lay the foundation for further growth and scalability.

IFS Progress is not a certification scheme and does not require accreditation.

Certima provides assessments according to IFS Progress Food and IFS Progress Logistics.

IFS Progress Food offers an easy entry into adequate food safety and quality processes and helps you meet legal and customer requirements. The development program helps you gradually build your food safety and quality management and leads you to IFS Food Certification. It follows a risk-based, product and process approach that promotes continuous improvement. This approach creates a focus on the areas of importance to the unique processes of each company. It allows you to determine implementation methods that are best suited to the unique conditions in your company.

The IFS Progress Food program is built in steps to support implementing, maintaining, and progressing the food safety and quality processes of your company. The basic level of the program comprises 45% of the IFS Food Standard requirements, and the Intermediate level 70%. The expected duration of each level is one year. Within three years, your company should reach IFS Food Certification (100%). The program allows flexibility in the timeframe and goals if agreed upon with your business partners.

How does it work?

Once your company is ready with preparation and implementation at any of the levels, you can contact Certima for an assessment. The assessment report will show you the gaps you still have and whether you can proceed to the next level and/or directly to IFS Food/Logistics certification. If the assessment is positive, Certima will issue a letter of approval, together with a report.

Benefits

• Easy entry into adequate product safety and quality processes
• Meet legal requirements
• Implement food safety and quality process prerequisites
• Address hazard identification and control
• Comply with existing and future business partner expectations
• Understand and minimize risks
• Strengthen traceability systems

Certima is an accredited third-party certification body, and through on-site pre-assessments and value-added food safety audits, Certima supports the process of capacity building.

Certima B.V. has built a strong reputation over nearly two decades as a trusted, competent and efficient certification body for the International Featured Standards (IFS). We are here to help you stay compliant, reduce risks, operate safely and grow confidently.

If you are ready to explore how Certima can help you achieve certification and enhance your business’s credibility, visit: https://certima.org/offer/ .