Ensuring basic food safety requirements are met, building trust between producers and retailers, and supporting access to retail shelves.

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