IFS Food version 8 audits started on 1 October 2023 and are mandatory from 1 January 2024. The applicability of IFS Food version 7 generally ends on 31 December 2023. The exceptions to this rule are listed in the current IFS Food 8 doctrine.

To prepare for the audit, IFS offers guidance, like guidelines and tools, to support companies in optimising their food safety and quality management and reaching IFS Certification. We especially recommend downloading the comparison between IFS Food versions 7 and 8. 

The IFS Software auditXpress Neo (AXP Neo) for IFS Food 8 significantly facilitates the reporting of internal audits and is free of charge. It facilitates the collaboration between audited companies and approved certification bodies and auditors using the same software. IFS Food Standard certified Businesses can download AXP Neo from the login area of the IFS Database.

Approved training providers offer industry training based on materials developed by IFS and recognised IFS Consultants can support businesses implementing the requirements.

The IFS Food Standard page provides all relevant information about the standard, the roadmap to certification and all relevant documents. Be sure to visit this page to be excellently prepared for your first IFS Food 8 audit.

On our IFS YouTube channel, you can watch our video to get an overview of the most important changes in version 8 compared to version 7.