Belén Macías. Coordinator of the Agri-Food Academic Area
The latest version of the IFS Food standard was expected to be published at the end of this year after the review period that has been reported throughout this year. However, the latest communications from IFS indicate that version 7 will be delayed until the end of 2018.
Instead, the IFS International Technical Committee, in order to ensure that the IFS Food standard continues to meet the benchmarking requirements of GFSI ( Global Food Safety Initiative , whose function is to harmonize global food safety standards by assessing existing standards and comparing them with the requirements set out in its guidance document, and which has published a new guidance document called Benchmarking requirements in April this year) has bitcoin data had to introduce a number of additional requirements in its current version 6, in force, in relation to the prevention of food fraud. For this reason, and in its eagerness to meet the challenges facing the food industry, it has published on December 1st , a new version of its current standard, IFS Food version 6.1 , now available in English through its official website, and waiting to be published in other languages shortly.
This modified version, which will come into force on 1 July 2018 , includes the current version of IFS Food from April 2014, as well as references to the current IFS Food Doctrine. As substantial changes, the new version includes aspects related to product integrity and the mandatory inclusion of QR codes in the IFS certificate. In relation to auditable requirements, it has a modified requirement in relation to the handling of allergens and, as a main change, a new chapter called “Food Fraud” is included.
This new chapter contains three requirements:
• Conducting a documented vulnerability assessment of all raw materials, including packaging and outsourced processes, to determine the risk of fraudulent activity in relation to substitution, mislabeling, adulteration or counterfeiting.
• A documented food fraud mitigation plan has been developed, with reference to the vulnerability assessment, and implemented to control any identified risks. Control and monitoring methods have been defined and implemented.
• Reviewing vulnerability assessments, at least annually, and whenever there is an increase in risk, reviewing and modifying the control and monitoring requirements of the food fraud mitigation plan when necessary.
As for the new IFS Food version 7 standard, work will continue on its development. According to the expected timeline, the new version 7 of the IFS Food standard should be released in the last quarter of 2018. After a six-month transition period of coexistence between both versions, 6.1 and 7, the first certification audits could take place in spring 2019.