The qualification training is available online through the IFS Online Academy or via face-to-face training. In each case the auditor has to pass an Exam at the end of the training. 

 

Requirements

As indicated in the IFS PACsecure Standard Part 3, the following auditors can participate in the training to become qualified for IFS PACsecure:

• Approved auditors in GFSI recognized standards, scope M
• IFS HPC Auditors approved for Product Scope 3

or

• In the case of new IFS PACsecure Auditors who are not mentioned in the categories above: Please review the IFS PACsecure standard, part 3, chapter 3.2 Requirements for new IFS PACsecure Auditors. In case of any questions please do not hesitate to contact the IFS Auditor Management ([email protected]). 

 

Price

• eLearning course: 295 Euro
• face-to-face course: on request

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE GENERAL IFS PACsecure Auditor Qualification Training 

 

For non- IFS approved Auditors (with or without an approval in GFSI recognized standards)

1. CV application
   All applicants have to complete their online-CV before they are accepted to participate in the qualifying IFS PACsecure training. To fill out the CV the auditor needs to be registered with the IFS Auditor Portal. 
   • Exclusive auditors (those working exclusively for one certification body) have to be registered with the IFS Auditor Portal by their responsible certification body 
   • Non-exclusive auditors (those who work for more than one certification body), please register here: https://www.ifs-certification.com/index.php/en/ifs-certification-bodies-auditors-en/registration-as-auditor
2. CV approval
   After the CV has been completed and sent to IFS, it will be checked to see if the auditor fulfills the necessary requirements. If all requirements are fulfilled then the IFS Auditor Management will accept the CV. In either case the auditor and the certification body will get a notification from the system.
3. Registering for the training
   Once your CV is accepted, the IFS will send you a login key to access the IFS PACsecure e-Learning.
4. Completing the training
   All participants have 4 weeks after registering to complete the training and exam. Each auditor has 2 attempts to pass the Exam. After you have successfully passed the training, the IFS Auditor Management will inform you within two weeks about the final steps towards approval. (see IFS PACsecure Standard Part 3.3)

 

For approved IFS Food, IFS Logistics (with approval in GFSI recognized standards, scope M) and IFS HPC Auditors (with approval for Product Scope 3): 

1. Contact the IFS Auditor Management
   The certification body or the auditor (in case of non-exclusive auditors) has to contact the IFS Auditor Management and inform them that they would like to extend their auditor approval.
2. CV and acceptance
   After IFS has edited the Auditor CV, the certification body or the auditor has to add the specific PACsecure relevant information and send the completed CV to IFS. IFS will check if the auditor fulfills the requirements of IFS PACsecure. In the case that all requirements are fulfilled, the IFS Auditor Management will accept the CV. In each case the auditor and the certification body will get a notification from the system.
3. Registering for the training
   Once your CV is accepted, the IFS will send you a login key to access the IFS PACsecure e-Learning.
4. Completing the training
   All participants have 4 weeks after registering to complete the training and exam. Each auditor has 2 attempts to pass the Exam. After you successfully pass the training, the IFS Auditor Management will inform you within two weeks about the final steps towards approval. (see IFS PACsecure Standard Part 3.3) 

 

HOW IFS PACSECURE AUDITORS CAN GET APPROVED TO EXECUTE COMBINED AUDITS WITH THE IFS SUPPLEMENTAL MODULES FOR PACKAGING INDUSTRY

Additional qualification requirement for IFS PACsecure approved auditors to audit the IFS supplemental modules for packaging industry

1. Depending on their experience the auditors have two options:
   a. To audit ISM-Packaging, when the auditor is already an IFS PACsecure Auditor
   b. To audit ISM-OTC/PHARMA, when the auditor is already an IFS PACsecure Auditor, AND has at least two (2) years’ experience working on primary packaging materials for medicinal products industry, in positions directly related with product manufacturing (e.g.: research, process/product development, quality assurance or lab control). The aforementioned experience is IN ADDITION to the work experience requested in the IFS PACsecure Standard.
2. The Certification Body has to request this application to IFS, indicating what kind of ISM is applicable for the auditor. The Certification Body is responsible for ensuring that the auditor fulfils the experience required in the previous point and providing the proper evidence.
3. IFS will train the IFS PACsecure auditor (exclusive/non-exclusive) in the respective ISM module requested by the Certification Body, via eLearning in the IFS Academy portal. Once the IFS PACsecure auditor finishes the module, he/she will have access to the IFS ISM Reports (ISM-packaging and/or ISM-OTC/Pharma), and other documents relevant to the execution of combined audits.

 

Further information

For IFS PACsecure or combined audits with IFS Supplemental Modules for Packaging Industry related questions please contact:

• Daniela Poblete, IFS Technical Project Manager for IFS PACsecure and IFS LATAM Director: [email protected] (Spanish questions)
• Pius Gasser, IFS Technical Project Manager and IFS Representative North America: [email protected] (English + German + DACH questions)
• Caroline Nowak, IFS Representative Brazil: [email protected] (Portugese questions)