IFS Broker created in 2010 is a standard for checking the compliance of services of trading agencies, importers and brokers in relation to product quality and safety. IFS Broker was developed to ensure product safety and quality by bridging the gap between production and distribution.
The Standard assesses traders to ensure that they have implemented appropriate measures for their suppliers to operate in accordance with product safety and quality requirements. Brokers, dealers and importers must also monitor their supplier's compliance to ensure that the products supplied meet regulatory specifications. The certification also covers private label products. From September 2020, companies can choose whether the inspection will be carried out on-site or remotely.
Certification based on the IFS standard is an important basis on which food companies can rely in order to export their products to Germany and France, as more and more retailers in these countries request an IFS certificate from their suppliers. The regulation of the standard specifies a quantified system of assessment of fulfillment of the requirements and the result of the assessment is expressed on a percentage basis. Thus, a supplier's customer can quantitatively evaluate their supplier's performance.
