Combining BRC and IFS Food Standards

Hi,

Just looking for some information. I recently joined a company who have BRC certification. Due the the markets we are expanding into - more customers are requiring IFS certification.

Does anyone have experience of having both systems? Is it possible to combine elements - rather than repeating for both??

I would appreciate you thoughts.

Regards,

S

Dear shawminator,


If you already have a Quality manual system for BRC issue 5. This will be the same system for IFS issue 5. You do not need to establish a second system, quality manual or procedures.
The standards (issue 5) are very similar. If you have BRC standards implemented you will have 89 % of the IFS standard.
Just check the IFS standard for the differences with BRC. For example regarding policies and objectives, inspections, training evaluation, etc.

I am performing combined BRC/IFS audits in the Netherlands on a weekly base. You really do not need to have two documented systems.
Before I became an auditor, I was QA responsible in a food factory, which had a combined system for BRC/IFS/Dutch HACCP/ISO. Combined systems are IMO very common. Actually the word 'combined system' is wrong. It is one system which includes the requirements of all standards.