Requirements for IFS Auditors

In general, the auditors shall meet the requirements of chapters 7.2.2 and 7.2.3 of ISO 19011.

During an IFS assessments, auditors shall, as IFS good auditing practices, use relevant samples of products, in order to investigate on-site the auditee’s production processes and documentation and to check the fulfilment of IFS requirements. In particular, auditors shall perform, during the audit, a traceability test in the company.

IFS publishes Guidelines which can provide further information on topics to be checked and/ or requested to the audited company during the audit.

Requirements before applying for the IFS examinations (IFS Food V7)

FOR EXCLUSIVE AUDITORS

Before applying for IFS examinations, auditors shall have met the following requirements:

• They shall have signed a contract with the certification body (see topic 6.1.3 of ISO/IEC 17065 norm). 
• The certification body shall have observed and confirmed the professional qualification and competence of the auditors.

FOR NON-EXCLUSIVE AUDITORS 

• The contract with one (or more) certification body(ies) can be signed after the IFS examination
• Find more information about this approach here

All auditors shall have signed the “General terms and licensing conditions of IFS Management GmbH for IFS Auditors” and the “Integrity Program rules for Auditors“.

General requirements for auditors when applying for IFS examinations (IFS Food V7)

Candidates applying to qualify as IFS Auditors shall meet the following minimum requirements and provide evidence with the application documents. The CV has to be submitted via the IFS Database.

a) Education

A food-related or bioscience degree (minimum a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) or at least a successfully completed food-related professional higher education.

b) Work experience

A minimum of three (3) years full-time professional experience related to the food industry including the following functions: functions related to food production activities (e.g. quality assurance, food safety, R & D) in the food industry or in retail; food safety auditing and / or food safety inspection or enforcement.
Experience from consultancy in relation to food production activities may be recognised as a maximum of one year towards the work experience, if it can be proven by customer contracts, invoices, orders or confirmations.

c) Qualifications

The candidate shall have:

• Taken part in the IFS Lead Auditor course or a recognised lead auditor course (e.g. IRCA) with a duration of at least 40 hours.

• Taken part in a Food hygiene and HACCP course, with a duration of at least two (2) days / 16 hours.

d) General audit experience

A minimum of eight (8) full food safety audits (GFSI recognised food safety certification audits and/or recognised second party audits) shall have been performed by the auditor in the food processing industry during the previous five (5) years (according to the “Positive list of recognisable audit experience for IFS Food” which is available in the certification body log in area of the IFS Database).
In addition, the candidate shall have participated in two (2) full IFS certification Assessments as a trainee during the last two (2) years.
The audits shall have been carried out at different production sites.

e) Specific and practical knowledge per product scope and technology scope

The candidates shall have specific and practical knowledge per product and technology scope (see ANNEX 3 for product and technology scopes).

For product scopes:

• At least two (2) years professional experience in the food industry in relation to food processing activities for each applied product scope. Experience from consultancy related to food processing activities may be recognised as a maximum of one year towards work experience, if it can be proven by customer contracts, invoices, orders or confirmations.

Or

• At least ten (10) audits per scope, belonging to the following categories:
  • GFSI recognised food safety certification audits (of which trainee audits are also accepted if evidence of attendance is available)
  • IFS Global Markets Food assessments (Intermediate Level or at least eight (8) hours assessment duration)
  • Second party audits including food safety and quality aspects with confirmed evidence (according to the “Positive list of recognisable audit experience for IFS Food” which is available in the certification body login area of the IFS Database).
  The candidate shall have participated in all steps of the audits (on-site audit, assessment and auditor’s on-site decision-making processes). Audits shall have been preferably carried out at different production sites, with a maximum of three (3) audits at the same production site.

If professional work experience or audit experience individually do not fulfil the requirements to apply for a product scope, a combination of both can be accepted (e.g. one year of work experience plus five (5) audits or equivalent combinations).

Note: Approval of scopes 7 (combined products) and 11 (pet food) are connected to other scopes. Further explanations are provided in ANNEX 3.

For technology scopes:

• At least two (2) years professional experience in the food industry in relation to food processing activities for each applied technology scope. Experience from consultancy may be recognised as a maximum of one year towards work experience, if it can be proven by customer contracts, invoices, orders or confirmations.

Or

• At least five (5) audits per scope, belonging to the following categories:
  • GFSI recognised food safety certification audits (of which trainee audits are also accepted if evidence of attendance is available)
  • IFS Global Markets Food assessments (intermediate level and at least eight (8) hours assessment duration)
  • Second party audits including food safety and quality aspects with confirmed evidence (according to the “Positive list of recognisable audit experience for IFS Food”).

The auditor shall have participated in all steps of the audits (on-site audit, assessment and auditor’s on-site decision-making processes). Audits shall have been preferably carried out in different production sites with a maximum of two (2) audits at the same production site.

If professional work experience or audit experience do not fulfil the requirements to apply for a technology scope individually, a combination of both can be accepted (e.g. 1 year of work experience plus three (3) audits or equivalent combinations).

f) Language

If the auditor wishes to perform Assessments in language(s) different to her / his mother tongue, she / he shall be able to provide evidence of fluency in this / these other language(s). For further rules applicable to language approval(s), see the IFS Food Doctrine.

g) Initial IFS In-house training (two (2) days / 16 hours)

The candidate shall have taken part in an initial IFS in-house training organised by the certification body (based on the material provided by IFS (e.g. TTT material and IFS GAP Guideline), led by an approved trainer and covering food safety, food-related legislation, assessment practices, etc.) or in an initial training organised by IFS. The initial in-house training shall not have taken place more than one year prior to the date of initial application for the IFS Examinations. The intention of this course is to prepare the candidates for the IFS Examination.

h) Online course provided by IFS (modular approach)

IFS Training on product / process approach.

If the auditor’s CV does not meet the above-mentioned requirements, IFS may reject the auditor’s examination application.
For exclusive auditors, the auditor’s CV shall be confirmed by a person from the certification body.
Non-exclusive auditors have to confirm the correctness and completeness of the data provided in their CV themselves.

Note: IFS Offices have the possibility to withdraw an IFS Auditor approval or not to accept them for the examination if the information provided in the CV is false.