Ifs Audit

Yorky,

I know you've been busy preparing for IFS audit, we want to know how you got on - did you pass?

Regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,

I think we passed the IFS audit. I say I think because the auditor cannot tell you the results on the day. The scoring system is so complicated that the details of non conformances are put into a spreadsheet to give you a final score (a sister company of ours scored 109% against foundation level so it appears that the IFS have there own ideas on how %ages work!!).

Having said that we did not get any KOs or Major non conformances and the amount of Minor non conformances leads me to believe we passed .

The audit itself is more like an ISO audit than a BRC one. With BRC audits I find that even if you have a small deviation from the clause and can prove to the auditor that it does not have an effect on product safety, quality or legality then you will not get a non conformance. In the IFS if you do not meet the letter of each clause then a non conformance is raised.

If anyone has any specific questions on the IFS let me know and I will try and answer them,

Cheers

Yorky


PS I read the headline that Saferpak is closing on 30th June but our company server will not allow access to this thread due to "possible pornographic content" . What's happening?

I think we passed the IFS audit.

Excellent mate well done, you've just been promoted to the forums IFS expert, we'll discuss your salary later...

PS I read the headline that Saferpak is closing on 30th June but our company server will not allow access to this thread due to "possible pornographic content" . What's happening? 

Yeah I think your server's made a wise move mate, there's some real saucy stuff on there, phew! You just wouldn't believe it.

Regards,
Simon

Dear Yorkshire,

Please advise the implementation of IFS clause 4.18.6 Higheer level:
"From all relevant raw materials, when appropriated, identified samples shall be available and kept stored till the end of the expiry date of the end product"
with a perishable raw material (e.g. vegetables which have to put in the canned products), Is it possible to keep them for 2-3 years shelf life?

Please also advise via email narongchai_y@yahoo.com

Regards

Dear Narongchai

Sorry for the delay in responding but I am rather busy at work so don't have as much time to check posts (or contribute ) lately.

This clause cause some debate during our pre-audit* because some of our unprocessed raw materials have alot shorter shelf life than the finished product. We decided that there was not much benefit to us in keeping samples of raw materials and decided to just retain samples of all finished products (up until the end of shelf life). We did however request that all raw materials suppliers retain a sample of batches sent to us. We have tested that this system works by recalling some samples during a traceability exercise.

We did not get a non conformance for this as it does not state where the samples should be stored.

This method saves us alot of work which would likely to be wasted effort.

In the case of canning fresh vegetables you must keep a sample of the finished product (start collecting now if you don't already as the auditor will want to see some proof you are doing it). With the raw vegetables I would argue that it is not worth considering as the raw material would be off in a week. Maybe you could keep a weeks worth of samples?

Let me know what you think.

* If you can go for a pre audit. You will be able to discuss issues such as this in a more open manner than if it is the actual audit.

Regards

Yorkshire

Dear Yokeshire,

Thank for coming message. I would like to discuss with auditor for this topic. As you see the wording "where appropriate", I think the IFS would like us to justify the clause and it makes sense for the retention of dry ingredients not the fresh or perishable ones. But I do not know what the reason or intension behide is.

Regards/Narongchai

Dear Narongchai,

Let me give you an example of why it is was important for us to retain samples.

We purchase a product which is diluted down with glucose syrup. The supplier makes one large batch a year and our company calls off stock when required.

A sample of this glucose was sampled by the Dutch ( or Belgian, I can't quite remember ) government and found traces of a banned cattle growth hormone. A food alert was raised by the EU and Europe wide manufacture of products containing this ingredient was stopped. A potential withdrawal of all effected batches was threatened ( about 6 months production ).

As I work for a group which has 18 or so factories in the EU the cost would have been tremendous.

Each site retains samples and we all sent them to a lab in Germany which could carry out testing for this hormone.

All results came out clear.

We petitioned the EU who in the meantime had carried out further tests which were also clear.

The ban was lifted and no recall was needed.

So to answer your question I think that the intention of this clause is to help investigate unforseeable problems.

Dear Yorkshire,

Thanks for your explanation but it is impossible to retain the perishable ones. Auditors here do not justify on this but insist to retain all kinds.

Narongchai

Dear Narongchai,


It may be that during the audit you get a non conformance for this clause. It is a Higher level clause and therefore not essential for foundation level. If you have some raw materials which are not perishable keep them then at least you are meeting part of the clause.

If the auditor will not listen to you about not being able to keep perishable materials argue against the non conformance when you get your report back.

Good luck

Narongchai,

my goodness, with which company are your working together?! We have there more then one company, where it is also not possible to retain samples from each incoming product.
So our customers either take one at a reasonable point in the chain, or really - as yorkshire stated - of the final product... and we were always able to convince the auditor (or lets say, we were always discussing upfront with the right person at the certification company).

Dear All,

I'm sorry I've been quiet recently. We have our IFS audit coming up in 2 weeks. I'll let you know how we got on,

Cheers

Dear All,

I'm sorry I've been quiet recently. We have our IFS audit coming up in 2 weeks. I'll let you know how we got on,

Cheers 

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You take your time mate - and good luck!

Regards,
Simon