14 replies to this topic

[Hreddy]

Dear Members,

 

Last week GFSI sanctioned IFS standards for the period of 3 months,

and also released FAQs related to this for the certified factories fro clarifications.

 

But still the suppliers / exporters and even Food professionals having concern about the 

IFS STANDARDS SANCTIONS BY GFSI.

 

Seems for me first of its kind to know this development, Probably many have experienced like this kind of development in past.

Give some inputs on why ? what ? and what rectification ? 

It helps to understand the IFS standards good and also the out of the box ideas..

 

Even small points to helps...

 

Best regards

[kingstudruler1]

you are correct, I don't think it's ever happened before.   

 

For any facility that has their audit conducted in the suspension window, it could be problematic.   

 

there does not seem to be any reasoning given for the suspension and IFS claims they were completely unaware of an issue.  they indicate they are taking legal action.  

Edited by kingstudruler1, 12 December 2022 - 04:34 PM.

[Charles.C]

Dear Members,

 

Last week GFSI sanctioned IFS standards for the period of 3 months,

and also released FAQs related to this for the certified factories fro clarifications.

 

But still the suppliers / exporters and even Food professionals having concern about the 

IFS STANDARDS SANCTIONS BY GFSI.

 

Seems for me first of its kind to know this development, Probably many have experienced like this kind of development in past.

Give some inputs on why ? what ? and what rectification ? 

It helps to understand the IFS standards good and also the out of the box ideas..

 

Even small points to helps...

 

Best regards

Hi Hreddy,

 

Please supply a link.

[SHQuality]

I've read everything I can find on the issue, but I still haven't found a reason based on fact that would explain the suspension.

The GFSI Steering committee needs to be clear about what the issue is.

[Evans X.]

It's not actually a bad practice or misconduct but rather a fallout. GFSI is trying to unify as much as possible standards across the world and bring them under its umbrella (there are economic gains there of course). IFS has grown enough (and maybe become bolder enough!) to have voiced possible monopoly issues and GFSI reacted with calling it an attempt at discrediting the organization.

In my opinion were is money involved issues like this do arise. GFSI should be more careful, but there is nothing utterly wrong with trying to become even "bigger". It's like calling eg Amazon to halt selling so competitors can catch up.

IFS on its part I think handled it wrongly cause it called out GFSI publicly to explain itself to them. Like it or not when there is hierachy you don't shout to your "boss" in front of all "employees" to explain his actions to you. There is a better and more discreet way to handle it and if you don't like the outcome then by all means go public.

[SHQuality]

It's not actually a bad practice or misconduct but rather a fallout. GFSI is trying to unify as much as possible standards across the world and bring them under its umbrella (there are economic gains there of course). IFS has grown enough (and maybe become bolder enough!) to have voiced possible monopoly issues and GFSI reacted with calling it an attempt at discrediting the organization.

In my opinion were is money involved issues like this do arise. GFSI should be more careful, but there is nothing utterly wrong with trying to become even "bigger". It's like calling eg Amazon to halt selling so competitors can catch up.

IFS on its part I think handled it wrongly cause it called out GFSI publicly to explain itself to them. Like it or not when there is hierachy you don't shout to your "boss" in front of all "employees" to explain his actions to you. There is a better and more discreet way to handle it and if you don't like the outcome then by all means go public.

Hi Evans X.

Where did you learn that this is what happened?

[Evans X.]

Hello SH,

 

What I wrote was deduced from the sources below:

 

https://www.ifs-cert...gfsi-suspension

 

https://mygfsi.com/w...-top-framework/

 

There are some more minor info on the internet. Disclaimer, this is just my opinion!

[Hreddy]

Hi Hreddy,

 

Please supply a link.

GFSI Steering Committee Sanctions International Featured Standards (IFS) - MyGFSI

[Marloes]

BRCGS made a position statement regarding the IFS suspension: Position Statement - Use of IFS certification for supplier approval during GFSI suspension period | BRCGS

 

''This means BRCGS will continue to recognise and accept IFS certificated audits conducted during the suspension period as being satisfactory to meet the requirements of the BRCGS supplier approval requirement.''

 

BRC is still accepting IFS certifications for supplier management. Haven't found any statements by FSSC yet, but it doesn't seem like this suspension is going to have any actual ramifications.    It is just GSFI embarrassing themselves.

Edited by Marloes, 16 December 2022 - 08:46 AM.

[Tony-C]

Agree with Marloes, sounds like GSFI have been extremely naughty in this situation, from IFS:

Just like many others, we were surprised by the GFSI’s action. On 8 December at 11:47 pm we were informed by email of the suspension and about its publication on 9 December. We, therefore, had no time to prepare information for the CBs and IFS-certified companies.

 

BRCGS will accept the IFS Certificate as the 2^nd option “supplier audit with specific criteria as detailed in each Standard” rather than certification to a GFSI benchmarked standard. This methods involves more work to approve your suppliers as rather than validating a certificate and scope the requirements extend as follows:

Supplier audits, with a scope to include product safety, traceability, HACCP review, the product security and food defence plan, the product authenticity plan and good manufacturing practices. The audit shall ensure that these plans form part of the supplier’s product safety management system and that any resultant actions are implemented.

The supplier audit shall be undertaken by an experienced and demonstrably competent product safety auditor. Where the supplier audit is completed by a second or third party, the company shall be able to:

• demonstrate the competency of the auditor

• confirm that the scope of the audit includes product safety, product security and food

defence plan, product authenticity, traceability, HACCP review and good manufacturing

practices

• obtain and review a copy of the full audit report

 

Note from IFS: Finally, we would like to let you know that all IFS Certificates are still valid and that the retailers and wholesalers from the IFS Network have clearly informed us that these certificates will also be recognised during the GFSI suspension.

 

IFS Update on GFSI suspension and answers to FAQ here. Here is the English version of FAQs:

 

 FAQs_regarding_GFSI_suspension.pdf   148.82KB   9 downloads

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Scampi]

This is a good read from the head of IFS

https://www.vmt.nl/6...ustly-shames-us

This adds validity to what I've always felt about food safety "schemes"  (the clue is in the name)--they are a sham so long as auditors are private contractors (which means they can and have been bought)  The focus is NOT on food safety (IMHO) and this will only get worse as regulatory bodies turn towards using a 3rd party audit as an integral part of regulatory compliance.

 

Companies who are shady will always find a way to be shady and consumers suffer as a result----less regulatory oversight and reliance on 3rd party audits who don't have any real power will not be successful in reducing food safety recalls

[WilliamSwain]

Thanks for the links. I want to know where you read about it.

[Tony-C]

Hi everyone,

 

The GFSI Steering Committee has reinstated IFS.

 

From GFSI: International Featured Standards (IFS) reinstated as a GFSI recognised CPO

 

From IFS: IFS welcomes the lifting of the suspension by GFSI

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Marloes]

I have been hearing some noise through the grapevines that companies certified by IFS have been getting Knock-Outs, more than before.
Could it be that IFS is auditing stricter to appease the GFSI overlords?

Have any of you been hearing similar talk?

[SHQuality]

I have been hearing some noise through the grapevines that companies certified by IFS have been getting Knock-Outs, more than before.
Could it be that IFS is auditing stricter to appease the GFSI overlords?

Have any of you been hearing similar talk?

What are these companies getting knocked out on? I haven't experienced this yet, but IFS is not a common certificate among my suppliers.

I doubt they've become stricter. Knockouts are always clear. They haven't followed the standard at all if this happens and there is a lot of ground between a knockout and the more common minor.