IFS+Logistic+Standard

The IFS Logistic Standard was developed by German and French retailers aiming to close the gap between production and retailing, and to make the whole supply chain transparent and comparable.

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Certification to the IFS Logistic Standard demonstrates your company’s capability to manage food safety related risks. It will help your organisation to fulfil your legal obligations and to protect the consumer.

Food safety and quality at the consumer end of the supply chain is the result of food handling at any step of the chain. The basis to achieve consumer satisfaction is a systematic quality and safety assurance across all stages. The industry’s overall efforts can only be visible to the consumer when all segments of the food chain cooperate.

The German and French retailers established this standard to prevent logistic companies from being overwhelmed by different requirements and to meet the retailers and food processors need for transparency of their supply chain.

The standard is applicable for all types of transport for both food and non food products, and covers all logistical activities such as: loading and off loading, transportation, storage, handling and further distribution. It generally applies to pre-packed products, but can under specific conditions be applicable for loose bulk product transportation.

EU regulations (No. 178/2002, No. 852/2004) legally oblige food storage and distribution companies to ensure systems are in place to supply safe and legal products.

Procedures based on the HACCP for food products, are supported by specific prerequisites such as:

  • Infrastructural and equipment requirements

  • Safe handling, storage and transport

  • Food waste handling

  • Pest control procedures

  • Sanitation procedures

  • Maintenance of the cold chain

  • The health of staff

  • Personal hygiene

  • Training

The standard enables your organisation to:

  • Provide evidence of commitment and, in case of food safety incident, legal defence in the frame of the "due diligence" concept (the capability to be able to demonstrate that every reasonable measure has been taken to avoid an incident)

  • Build and operate a management system capable of helping the logistic company to better meet food safety requirements and legal compliance

  • Provide a tool for food safety performance improvement by monitoring and measuring food safety performance effectively

  • Ensure effective product recall, if needed.