The IFS quality management includes measures to ensure defined quality requirements of the provided certification programs as well as to control the implementation of IFS standards in practice. Cooperation of IFS with the certification bodies is a precondition for a successful quality management. The relevant regulations are formulized in the standard and Annex 4 of the framework agreement of the IFS, which has to be signed by the certification bodies.
IFS-certified companies are obliged to comply with defined standard requirements. The respective IFS standard provides appropriate information about the IFS quality management system. But information about this topic can not only be found in the IFS standards. In accordance with the framework agreement certification bodies are committed to inform the respective companies, where they perform IFS audits, about the Integrity Program of IFS.
To guarantee an ongoing further development of the IFS quality management procedures regular meetings of a Quality Assurance Working Group, consisting of international representatives, take place. Additionally the results of the IFS Integrity Program (and the Food Check program) are presented to national and international working groups of IFS and are discussed with focus on the efficiency of the different quality assurance measures.