Stephan Tromp, Managing Director of IFS, highlights the importance of the new tool: “The EU Deforestation Regulation will soon come into force, aiming to promote sustainable supply chains that protect forests and biodiversity. The IFS Deforestation Check provides a straightforward self-assessment process that can be complemented by an on-site or remote check by an auditor. This way, companies will gain an overview of their compliance status and can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable sourcing.”

Get EUDR-ready in one or two steps

The IFS Deforestation Check employs a two-step approach

1. Completion of an online self-assessment questionnaire with automated risk analysis and recommendations.
2. Potential follow-up with an on-site or remote assessment conducted by certification bodies within the IFS Network.

Whether step two is necessary will depend on the self-assessment result and internal risk analysis. An on-site or remote assessment by an auditor may be recommended for specific suppliers to gain more comprehensive insights.

Benefit from an accessible and widely supported solution

“We collaborated on this project with ImpactBuying, KPMG and osapiens. They contributed their extensive experience in sustainability and supply chain analysis, which enabled us to offer an accessible and widely supported solution that works on various IT platforms”, explains Tromp. “Retailers in our network have expressed their interest in this check, so we can start right away”, he adds.

ImpactBuying already offers the IFS Deforestation Check Self-Assessment on its platform. At the beginning of October, it will also become available on the osapiens platform, while the IFS Database will host it at no cost for both certified and non-certified businesses starting in November. Business partners such as retail companies may indicate which platform they prefer for their suppliers to use. Suppliers can, in turn, ask their suppliers in the upstream supply chain to complete the self-assessment questionnaire on one of the platforms.

All three IT platforms will automatically analyse the completed questionnaires and indicate the level of compliance.

IFS Support for the Deforestation Check

To help companies complete the self-assessment questionnaire, IFS published a detailed guidance document that explains the intention behind each question and clarifies what evidence a company should provide to substantiate its statements. Also, an industry e-learning course, developed in partnership with Impact Buying, is available. We also support a series of webinars in different languages that osapiens offers.

"Get ready for EUDR compliance today by starting with the IFS Deforestation Check Self-assessment," concludes Tromp.

More information about the on-site or remote part of the check will become available before December 2025.

Find more information about the IFS Deforestation Check:

• Read the IFS Deforestation Check Industry Newsletter
• Download the guidance document for the self-assessment
• Visit the IFS Deforestation Check webpage
• Visit the ImpactBuying website
• Visit the osapiens website

In the second version of the doctrine, we specify the following topics: 

• Situations where a remote follow-up audit is acceptable
• Situations where a follow-up audit can be performed in less than 6 weeks
• Situations where an audit is considered cancelled
• Clarification about training requirements for auditors and reviewers
• Clarification about the head office/central management information on the certificate
• Clarification on the definitions of dates on the certificate

The doctrine is a normative document complementing the standard. Accordingly, companies, certification bodies and auditors must be aware of its content. 

Ensure you download and read the new IFS PACsecure 3 Doctrine version 2, available in English before your next audit.

In the fourth version of the doctrine, we specify the following topics: 

• Situations where a remote follow-up audit is acceptable
• Situations where a follow-up audit can be performed in less than 6 weeks
• Missing audit time due to missing scopes
• Situations where an audit is considered cancelled
• Clarification about the head office/central management information on the certificate
• Clarification on the definitions of dates on the certificate

The doctrine is a normative document complementing the standard. Accordingly, companies, certification bodies and auditors must be aware of its content. 

Make sure to download the new Food 8 Doctrine version 4 in English before your next audit.