PIA
Product Integrity

IFS is pleased to introduce IFS Local, a new annual standalone check designed to evaluate food safety and compliance at small-scale local producers.

Businesses, including micro-enterprises, family-owned companies, and artisanal producers, play a crucial role in the food industry. However, limited resources and simple processes can make meeting food safety requirements challenging.

“IFS Local is a strategic initiative designed to empower small-scale food producers. It offers them a structured, hands-on framework for ensuring basic good hygiene and manufacturing practices, as well as product compliance. By adopting IFS Local, producers can build greater trust with their customers and enhance their chances of securing shelf space in retail stores,” said Stephan Tromp, Managing Director of IFS.

What the IFS Local Check covers

IFS Local provides clear guidance and practical support for establishing essential foundations for safe food production, processing, and packing, while minimising administrative effort. Developed in collaboration with retailers, certification bodies, and industry experts, it ensures practical applicability and alignment with market expectations.

The IFS Local checklist is clearly structured and contains both core requirements and additional optional requirements as needed. Trained assessors verify compliance with these requirements and can provide advice on process optimisation. Assessed businesses receive a report, an action plan, and a letter of confirmation. They can make these documents easily available to their customers through the IFS Database. 

Value for small-scale food producers

IFS Local supports small-scale food producers by making it easier to identify and reduce food safety risks, comply with legal and product requirements, and implement practical, effective measures in day-to-day operations. The check helps build trust with customers and other stakeholders and can be a ticket to placing products in retail stores. This way, supply chains are strengthened, and producers, retailers and customers can buy the locally produced food products with confidence. 

Tools and resources available

To support implementation, IFS provides the following tools and resources:

• IFS Local Check Program explaining the check structure and requirements
• IFS Local Guidance Document detailing how to apply the requirements 
• IFS Database, enabling IFS Local checked companies to securely share reports and confirmation letters with business partners to increase transparency
• IFS auditXpress Neo, free software supporting self-checks reporting and identification of improvement areas, to help prepare for the IFS Local Check
• IFS Local webpage with access to documents, tools, and further information 

Prepare for the upcoming regulations

We recognise that the political landscape has shifted since September. The scope and implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) remain uncertain. Therefore, we have decided to delay the release of the second part of the check, the auditor assessment, until the EU finalises its political decisions. 

Regardless of when the EUDR becomes effective, companies handling products containing raw materials such as cattle, soy, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and wood are advised to begin assessing their deforestation-related risks now to ensure they are adequately equipped. Using the online questionnaire can serve as a helpful initial step. It supports preparation for the upcoming regulatory requirements, as well as meeting the sustainability expectations of customers, consumers, and other stakeholders.

More Supply Chain Solutions

The IFS Deforestation Check is a component of the IFS Supply Chain Solutions portfolio, which encompasses various process checks and tools. These resources support the implementation of essential processes for managing supply chain risks and assist in evaluating the ability to identify and monitor such risks effectively.  

More information

• Visit the IFS Deforestation Check webpage
• Visit the ImpactBuying website
• Visit the osapiens website 
• Subscribe to the IFS Supply Chain Solutions Newsletter

Annual meeting in Berlin brings together the IFS Community

The IFS CB Conference 2025 took place in Berlin on 9 and 10 October 2025. It brought together representatives from certification bodies and the IFS Network to discuss the latest developments in food safety, compliance, and innovation.

This year focused on advancing food safety through digitalisation, local engagement, and new learning opportunities.

Strong market position and continued growth

Despite ongoing consolidation in the food industry, IFS Certification maintained a strong market position and leadership across Europe. It saw a 5.7% increase in audits from January to September 2025 and notable growth in these standards:

• IFS Broker: +9.9%
• IFS HPC: +9.7%
• IFS Logistics: +7.0%
• IFS Food: +5.6%

Backed by a global network of 1,450 auditors and 83 certification bodies, IFS continues to expand internationally and build new partnerships with retailers. It demonstrates the confidence retailers and service providers have in IFS to guarantee product safety and quality across the global food supply chain. 

Shaping the future: data, cooperation and AI in auditing

"IFS will strengthen its network to face future challenges. We will expand our supply solutions, use data analysis to enhance audit preparation, invest in current e-learning courses, and make AI an integral part of auditor training."

Stephan Tromp, IFS Managing Director

Expanding IFS Supply Chain Solutions

IFS Managing Director, Stephan Tromp, presented the next phase of IFS’s strategic development, announcing the expansion of the IFS Supply Chain Solutions portfolio. This will support companies in meeting upcoming EU sustainability regulations and strengthen their supply chain risk management.

Using data and AI for continuous improvement

Tromp also highlighted the use of IFS-collected data to enhance audit preparation and as input for auditor and industry e-learning courses. Also, from 2026/27 onwards, AI will play a key role in auditor calibration training, with new modules on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in auditing and food safety, preparing auditors for future industry challenges.

Inspiring keynotes on excellence and digitalisation

Two keynote presentations sparked lively discussion and reflection:

• Dr Jean-Charles Gander (IFS Expert) — “Non-conformity, a road to excellence”, showing how audit findings can drive performance and continuous improvement.

• Dr Gábor Molnár (UNIDO) — “Digitalisation of food safety”, highlighting how technology and data transform global food safety systems.

Both keynotes reinforced IFS’s mission to foster learning, innovation, and collaboration across the global food safety community. IFS and UNIDO also announced a strategic partnership to collaborate more closely. IFS will support UNIDO’s initiatives to strengthen food safety systems and promote good hygiene practices worldwide, signalling a significant step towards enhancing global food industry standards.

New tools and learning opportunities for stronger food safety

IFS EPIC: Next-level e-learning platform for auditors and industry

IFS unveiled IFS EPIC, a new e-learning platform designed for certification bodies, auditors, and businesses that will become available in 2026. EPIC offers flexible, modern learning formats. Users can prepare for the IFS Food Auditor exams anytime and anywhere. The platform also helps expand knowledge of IFS Standards and Programs, Supply Chain Solutions and supports continuous improvement and professional growth.

IFS Local Check: Supporting small-scale producers

IFS also introduced Local Check, a practical verification tool for small-scale food producers. It will be published in early 2026 and provide a structured way to verify good hygiene and manufacturing practices. It will include additional measures to control specific hazards and risks where applicable. By making reliable food safety verification more accessible, IFS Local Check empowers local producers to strengthen trust and transparency with customers and stakeholders.

IFS auditXpress Neo as mobile app

The IFS auditXpress Neo (AXP Neo) is customised software that assists in IFS Audit reporting. Its recent updates include an integrated manual and additional features that enhance user-friendliness and operational efficiency. Looking ahead, IFS plans to introduce a mobile application version of this software, enabling auditors to initiate reporting directly at audit sites. The mobile app will mirror the current features and, through a cloud-based platform, ensure data access across various devices for effective and convenient reporting.

Stronger together

The 2025 CB Conference once again demonstrated the strength of collaboration within the IFS Community. The opportunity to network and gain new impulses benefits the certification bodies and the IFS Team. IFS will continue empowering its partners to expand their business and looks forward to building safer, smarter, and more sustainable supply chains together. 

Useful links for further information: 

How to become a CB for IFS Certification

How to become an IFS Auditor 

IFS Supply Chain Solutions