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A comparison between IFS
and ISO norms
Comparison between iFs Food version 6
and iso 22000, iso/ts 22002-1 and
iso/ts 22003

Fundamental differences
The IFS Food standard is a GFSI recognized standard that has been developed to ensure that the food safety
and quality requirements (product specifications, customer focus, etc.), as well as applicable regulatory
requirements in the products’ country of destination are complied with. The IFS system has been created to
answer the following key question: “Is a food supplier capable of delivering safe food according to the agreed
end product specification?” The standard is supported by retailers, food service companies and food manu­
facturers, who are all part of the IFS technical committees, and specifies the criteria that shall be fulfilled at
a given level.
The IFS has a global presence and is managed by 5 regional offices that can be reached directly by all
stakeholders.
Thanks to appropriate committees and their coordinated work, IFS can be adapted at short notice to take into
account any new legal technical developments as well as best food safety and quality practices which are
used by food manufacturers on a daily basis.

The ISO 22000 was edited by the ISO organization in order to launch a standard focusing on food safety
requirements. ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1:2009 are two independent standards, although ISO/TS 22002­1
can only be used together with ISO 22000. ISO/TS 22002­1 (replacing PAS 220:2008) supplements and speci­
fies ISO 22000 by including GHP’s and GMP’s, in order to satisfy the requirements drawn by the GFSI Guidance
Document. Both ISO standards only concern food safety aspects, without including quality requirements or
the legal aspects of the foodstuff. ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1:2009 don’t set target levels regarding the
specified criteria that shall be fulfilled.
ISO 22000 does not provide a standard management.
ISO 22000 is an ISO standard that is revised at irregular intervals by several national bodies. This results in a
slower adaptation to new laws and even to new technical developments.

Target groups for the standards

The IFS standard has been redacted to ease the understanding of the requirements and their implementation
in order to build up a strong food safety and quality management system. Therefore, it can be applied by any
company whatever its size is.

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ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1 are mainly suitable for large companies with large quality assurance divisions,
at any stage of the supply chain, as such companies have the personnel, time and financial resources required
to develop and implement their own requirements and adaptations to the norm.
Small and medium sized businesses cannot always afford to build their own food safety management system
and often lack the time, the knowledge and the necessary financial resources to do so.

Levels of implementation of the standards

IFS gives clear and uniform requirements as to the level to be achieved for a satisfactory implementation of
the standard.
The result of an IFS certification audit is translated into a level of compliance and respective figure indicating
the level of achievement.

In the case of ISO 22000, together with ISO/TS 22002­1 and ISO/TS 22003, the audited companies can deter­
mine their own level of implementation. This means that an ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002­1 certificate only certi­
fies that a company has implemented the ISO 22000 standard, together with ISO/TS 22002­1. It does not give
any information about the degree of implementation or the level of implementation achieved.

Accreditation, evaluation system, reporting and database

IFS not only specifies the requirements to be assessed, but also sets the assessment strategy and the layout of
the audit reports. A unified evaluation system (with different scoring possibilities: A, B, C, D, Major non­con­
formity and KO requirements scored D) allows providing detailed and flexible assessment of each require­
ment. This evaluation system and standardized audit reports are provided in order to ensure the comparabil­
ity of all IFS audits, regardless the language, the certification body and the country in which the audits were
performed. Moreover, all certification bodies and auditors have uniform specifications to comply with. These
include a contractual commitment with IFS and certification bodies valid ISO 17065 product and process
accreditation submission before being permitted to work with IFS. IFS certificates can only be issued by
accredited certification bodies. IFS holds and manages a global database which allows users to access to all
current information on the use of the IFS, IFS certificates and IFS audit reports.

ISO 22000, ISO/TS 22002­1 and ISO/TS 22003 only specify the requirements to be checked. No uniform evalu­
ation system exists and there are no requirements facilitating harmonized audit reports. Therefore, the certifi­
cation bodies can create their own audit reports. For the delivery of ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002­1 certificates,
no accreditation is mandatory, but most of certification bodies do have an accreditation (based on ISO 17021
for management system) in order to increase the credibility of the certification.
There is no central database for hosting all audit reports.

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Auditors’ qualification process
For IFS audits qualification, all auditors must submit their CV, with evidence of their experience and compe­
tences, to be checked by the IFS offices. When CVs fulfil IFS pre­requisites, auditors shall pass written and oral
IFS exams to finally get the approval for certain product scopes, in order to perform audits in this scope.
Altogether, IFS identifies 11 product scopes and 6 technology scopes. IFS also determines requirements
to maintain auditors’ qualification (calibration training, witness audits, in­house training, etc.). This, again,
ensures that an IFS auditor has the knowledge, skills and capacities, as well as the necessary product scope
competence that are required to perform high­quality audits for IFS. It also ensures regularly updated knowl­
edge and uniform ways of assessing companies.

In the case of ISO 22000, the ISO/TS 22003 establishes requirements on a wide product specific basis (three
product scopes are identified).
The certification bodies can themselves decide which auditor to entrust with which fields of competence. In
addition, the certification bodies and auditors are not subject to any centralized control or, if accredited, only
to a general one which is performed by the respective accrediting body. Thus, by applying ISO 22000, ISO/TS
22002­1 and ISO/TS 22003, the standard users do not have guarantee for any independent control ensuring
that the auditor has the necessary competence to undertake the audit.
The “calibration” of all auditors at a national and international level is not possible with ISO 22000, ISO/TS
22002­1 and ISO/TS 22003.

Integrity Program
IFS has implemented a complete Integrity Program to generally ensure the quality and integrity of performed
audits, and more specifically to:

y monitor the performance of certification bodies and auditors (by verifying within certification bodies’ head­
quarters or on­site, the successful implementation of the IFS standard),

y manage and answer all complaints from stakeholders. In the case of a stakeholder complaint about an IFS
certified company, IFS is able and commits to investigate and schedule an additional on­site audit to ensure
that the final result is trustworthy.

All certification bodies shall sign a contract with the IFS organization allowing strong quality control from IFS
which may include witness audits, quality checks on audit reports etc. The “Integrity Program” assures the
quality of all certification bodies working with IFS.

ISO does not have an Integrity Program, or any similar program to ensure the harmonization of audit practices
between different certification bodies and/or between different countries.
In case of objections due to the lack of specifications, no fault on the part of the certification bodies can ever
be ascertained as no court will be able to proof inappropriate behaviour without clear obligations.

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GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative,
from the Consumer Goods Forum) recognition
The Global Food Safety Initiative developed a Guidance Document with food safety requirements. All scheme
owners wishing to gain GFSI recognition must demonstrate that the requirements in the Guidance Document
have been incorporated in their standard. The Guidance Document of the GFSI does not regulate the assess­
ment of quality or legal requirements.
The IFS Food standard has been recognized by the GFSI since the beginning and IFS Food version 6 is one of
the first Standard which has been recognised in September 2012, based on the most recent version of GFSI
Guidance Document (version 6).
ISO 22000 does not satisfy the requirements stipulated in the GFSI Guidance Document and cannot be
benchmarked by the GFSI. For this reason, ISO/TS 22002­1 has been developed (initially PAS 220:2008) as an
enhancing complement of ISO 22000, intended to meet the GFSI requirements.
A new standard, FSSC 22000, was created in 2008 by an independent foundation, gathering requirements
from ISO 22000, ISO/TS 22002­1, ISO/TS 22003 and the GFSI Guidance Document (plus additional require­
ments formerly missing from this document). Main goals of this standard are to cover all ISO documents
related to food safety and finally gain endorsement by the GFSI for international recognition.
Standards “recognized” by the GFSI are only equivalent in terms of their food safety criteria.

Service Tools
IFS has implemented a global and standardized database along with a standardized proprietary software.
Together, these service tools ensure users that, if access is granted by the audited companies, the entire audit
data is centrally available. Furthermore, standardized evaluation of all audits, as well as notification of any new
certification or withdrawal of certificate, are available. Controls by the standard owner and uniform complaint
procedures further enhance consistency.

ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1 do not provide a central information system, lacking the ability to provide an
overview of the ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1 audits/certificates currently on the market. Thus, a standard­
ized and comparable complaint procedure is also not possible.

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Audits requirements (audit check­list)
ISO 22000 is a food safety management system norm which requires results to control food safety. This could
be in general the backbone of the IFS food safety requirements, part 2. In ISO 22000, most chapters describing
requirements are very general and system­oriented whereas the approach of IFS is more product­oriented.
Only the requirements on HACCP are similar in both standards as they are both based on the Codex
Alimentarius.

ISO/TS 22002­1:2009 (replacing PAS 220:2008) describes requirements to control food safety hazards in con­
junction with ISO 22000. In general, the document contains the major requirements to reach the results of the
ISO 22000 norm clause 7. There are some common requirements with the food safety requirements of IFS
Food, part 2, but major difference is that ISO/TS 22002­1 does not include quality and legal aspects.

IFS focuses on the processes that essentially determine safe and high quality products. Besides retailers, food
services companies and food manufacturers have now approved the IFS approach and are currently using it.
IFS demands more than just the assessment of food safety on the production site. The satisfaction of legal
requirements and quality criteria, as checked during the IFS audit, are, however, of utmost importance.
Among other aspects, ISO 22000 and ISO/TS 22002­1 fail to contain the following criteria which are of great
importance for users:

y quality management including contract review,

y product specifications’ compliance,

y product development,

y customer requirements,

y product quality,

y product packaging,

y quantity checking,

y management of complaints from customers and authorities,

y satisfaction of legal requirements in general,

y GMO, factory inspections, etc.

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The below comparison concerns audit requirements (IFS part 2 versus ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002­1). Having
the same aim concerning food safety subjects:

Requirements which are completely exclusive to IFS

(not covered in ISO/TS 22002-1 and ISO 22000)

IFS n°

1.3 Customer focus

4.1 Contract agreement

4.2 Specifications and formulas

4.3 Product development, product modification, modification of production processes

4.5 Product packaging

4.19 Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

5.2 Site factory inspections

5.5 Quantity checking (quantity control/filling quantities)

5.8 Management of complaints from authorities and customers

IFS requirements which are not or very slightly covered in ISO/TS 22002-1, but
are covered in ISO 22000, in a general way (i.e, not so product-oriented as IFS)

IFS n°

1. Senior management responsibility

2. Quality and food safety management system

3.1 Human resources management

3.3 Training and instruction

4.18 Traceability (including GMOs and allergens)

5.1 Internal audits

5.4 Calibration and checking of measuring and monitoring devices

5.6 Product analysis

5.7 Product quarantine (blocking/hold) and product release

5.11 Corrective actions

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IFS requirements which are more detailed in ISO/TS 22002-1 than in IFS, due to
the fact that IFS is risk based. Thus, the IFS requirements are not so prescriptive
and give the manufacturers the possibility to find their own approach which fits
process risks.

IFS n°
3.2.1 Personnel hygiene
3.2.2 Protective clothing for personnel, contractors and visitors
3.2.3 Procedures applicable to infectious diseases
4.7 Factory exterior
4.8 Plant layout and process flows
4.9.8 Air conditioning/ventilation
4.9.9 Water supply
4.9.10 Compressed air
4.10 Cleaning and disinfection
4.11 Waste disposal
4.13 Pest monitoring/Pest control
4.14 Receipt of goods and storage
4.16 Maintenance and repair
4.17 Equipment

Requirements concerning prerequisites are less precise in IFS and linked systematically to hazard/risk analysis,
leaving the interpretation to the applicants’ responsibility (food manufacturer).

Requirements which are more detailed in IFS than in ISO/TS 22002-1

IFS n°
3.4 Sanitary facilities, equipment for personnel hygiene and staff facilities
4.4 Purchasing
4.9.4 Ceilings/Overheads
4.9.5 Windows and other openings
4.9.6 Doors and gates
4.12 Risk of foreign material, metal, broken glass and wood
4.15 Transport
4.20 Allergens and specific conditions of production
5.3 Process validation and control
5.9 Management of incidents, product withdrawal, product recall
5.10 Management of non­conformities and non­conforming products
6 Food defense and external inspection

A more detailed comparison between IFS Food version 6 part 2 and ISO 22000 + ISO/TS 22002­1 is available
on an Excel attached chart.

IFS offices, October 2012.

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