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IFS is convinced that on-site visits are necessary to effectively evaluate good manufacturing or distribution and hygiene practices, which are central to certification requirements. However, documentation can be checked remotely, which is why we have developed the IFS Split Assessment. It ensures the integrity of an IFS certification while recognizing the strain the Covid-19 pandemic has placed on auditor travel and the risks of extended face-to-face contact. The IFS Split Assessment applies to recertification assessments of all IFS Standards and Global Markets programs (intermediate level). The only exception is for IFS Broker to which a full remote protocol applies.
The on-site assessment comes first
IFS determines that the on-site visit must occur prior to the remote part, and at least 50% of the total assessment time is allocated to the on-site evaluation.
The on-site part of the IFS Split Assessment can take place announced or unannounced. The unannounced option gives every company the possibility to fulfil the new GFSI requirement that at least every third IFS Assessment must be performed unannounced.
The on-site visit is supplemented by the remote part of the assessment, which includes a review of further documented information and a careful cross-check of documentation and records. This part follows the on-site visit, as the insight gained there is the basis for a focused and comprehensive assessment of the documentation. The remote part must take place within 14 days of the on-site assessment.
Steps to planning an IFS Split Assessment for certification renewal:
• The company should clarify in advance with its customers whether they accept a certificate based on the IFS Split Assessment.
• The site to be assessed and its certifications body (CB) need to perform a risk evaluation to identify if an IFS Split Assessment is technically possible.
• The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) during the assessment process requires a written agreement between the company and the certification body. The certification body and the assessed site shall have appropriate information technology (IT) infrastructure and environment (e.g. internet access) in place.
• The assessed company needs to ensure that they have all relevant documents and records available digitally.
• IFS has identified in each standard and global markets program checklist which requirements can be assessed on-site, remotely, and those that must be cross-checked. This helpful document gives companies and auditors clear guidelines of how to conduct an IFS Split Assessment.
After completing the IFS Split Assessment, the CB will include the following statement in the assessment report and on the IFS Certificate: “part of the assessment has been performed using ICT – split assessment”. It increases transparency with a company’s customers, retailers, and other stakeholders.
More information
In the right colomn you find all relevant documents regarding the IFS Split Assessment:
- The IFS Position paper “Onsite First with IFS Assessments” explains our position and clarifies our approach. It is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
- In the IFS Split Assessment protocol you can find all the important technical details regarding the split approach of IFS. The document is only available in English at the moment. Translations in our main languages will follow.
- Checklists for the IFS Assessment protocol for each IFS Standard and Global Markets Program show the requirements to be checked fully on-site and those that can be fully or partly assessed remotely. The documents are available only in English.
- A fact sheet giving a condensed and clear overview of the most important features of the IFS Split Assessment. The document is available only in English.
- The IFS Newsletter introducing the IFS Split Assessment in our five main langua

IFS is convinced that on-site visits are necessary to effectively evaluate good manufacturing or distribution and hygiene practices, which are central to certification requirements. However, documentation can be checked remotely, which is why we have developed the IFS Split Assessment. It ensures the integrity of an IFS certification while recognizing the strain the Covid-19 pandemic has placed on auditor travel and the risks of extended face-to-face contact. The IFS Split Assessment applies to recertification assessments of all IFS Standards and Global Markets programs (intermediate level). The only exception is for IFS Broker to which a full remote protocol applies.
The on-site assessment comes first
IFS determines that the on-site visit must occur prior to the remote part, and at least 50% of the total assessment time is allocated to the on-site evaluation.
The on-site part of the IFS Split Assessment can take place announced or unannounced. The unannounced option gives every company the possibility to fulfil the new GFSI requirement that at least every third IFS Assessment must be performed unannounced.
The on-site visit is supplemented by the remote part of the assessment, which includes a review of further documented information and a careful cross-check of documentation and records. This part follows the on-site visit, as the insight gained there is the basis for a focused and comprehensive assessment of the documentation. The remote part must take place within 14 days of the on-site assessment.
Steps to planning an IFS Split Assessment for certification renewal:
• The company should clarify in advance with its customers whether they accept a certificate based on the IFS Split Assessment.
• The site to be assessed and its certifications body (CB) need to perform a risk evaluation to identify if an IFS Split Assessment is technically possible.
• The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) during the assessment process requires a written agreement between the company and the certification body. The certification body and the assessed site shall have appropriate information technology (IT) infrastructure and environment (e.g. internet access) in place.
• The assessed company needs to ensure that they have all relevant documents and records available digitally.
• IFS has identified in each standard and global markets program checklist which requirements can be assessed on-site, remotely, and those that must be cross-checked. This helpful document gives companies and auditors clear guidelines of how to conduct an IFS Split Assessment.
After completing the IFS Split Assessment, the CB will include the following statement in the assessment report and on the IFS Certificate: “part of the assessment has been performed using ICT – split assessment”. It increases transparency with a company’s customers, retailers, and other stakeholders.
More information
In the right colomn you find all relevant documents regarding the IFS Split Assessment:
- The IFS Position paper “Onsite First with IFS Assessments” explains our position and clarifies our approach. It is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
- In the IFS Split Assessment protocol you can find all the important technical details regarding the split approach of IFS. The document is only available in English at the moment. Translations in our main languages will follow.
- Checklists for the IFS Assessment protocol for each IFS Standard and Global Markets Program show the requirements to be checked fully on-site and those that can be fully or partly assessed remotely. The documents are available only in English.
- A fact sheet giving a condensed and clear overview of the most important features of the IFS Split Assessment. The document is available only in English.
- The IFS Newsletter introducing the IFS Split Assessment in our five main languages

La Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto (IFS Split Assessment)

IFS está convencido de que las visitas in situ son necesarias para evaluar eficazmente las buenas prácticas de fabricación o distribución e higiene, que son fundamentales para los requisitos de certificación. Por otro lado, la documentación puede revisarse en remoto, razón por la cual hemos desarrollado la Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto. Ésta garantiza la integridad de una certificación IFS al tiempo que reconoce la tensión que la pandemia de la Covid-19 ha supuesto en los desplazamientos de los auditores y los riesgos de un contacto presencial prolongado. La Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto aplica a las evaluaciones de recertificación y a las evaluaciones de todas las normas IFS y los programas de Global Markets (a nivel intermedio). La única excepción es con IFS Bróker, ya que tiene un protocolo en remoto completo.

El IFS Split Assessment cumple con las reglas al uso de tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC)  de la versión 2020.1 de GFSI respecto, y no ha recibido comentarios des favorables por parte de nuestra entidad de acreditación origen. 

La evaluación in situ en primer lugar

IFS determina que la visita in situ debe realizarse antes de la parte en remoto, y al menos el 50% del tiempo total de la evaluación se asigna a la evaluación in situ.

La parte in situ de la Evaluación IFS mixta puede realizarse de forma anunciada o no anunciada. La opción sin anunciar ofrece a todas las empresas la posibilidad de cumplir con el nuevo requisito de GFSI de que al menos una de cada tres evaluaciones IFS se realice sin anunciar.

La visita in situ se complementa con la parte en remoto de la evaluación, que incluye una revisión de la información adicional documentada y una cuidadosa comprobación de la documentación y los registros. Esta parte se realiza después de la visita in situ, ya que la información obtenida en ella es la base para una evaluación específica y exhaustiva de la documentación. La evaluación en remoto debe realizarse en los 14 días siguientes a la evaluación in situ.

Planificación y preparación de una Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto

• La empresa debe aclarar de antemano con sus clientes si aceptan un certificado basado en una evaluación combinada.
• El emplazamiento que va a ser evaluado y su entidad de certificación (EC) deben realizar una evaluación de riesgos para determinar si es técnicamente posible realizar una Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto.
• El uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) durante el proceso de evaluación requiere un acuerdo por escrito entre la empresa y la entidad de certificación. La entidad de certificación y el emplazamiento evaluado deberán contar con una infraestructura y un entorno de tecnologías de la información (TI) adecuados (por ejemplo, buen acceso a Internet).
• La empresa evaluada debe asegurarse de que dispone de todos los documentos y registros pertinentes en formato digital.
• IFS ha identificado en cada estándar y programa los requisitos que pueden evaluarse in situ, en remoto, y los que se comprueban de manera cruzada. Este documento ofrece a las empresas y a los auditores unas directrices claras sobre cómo llevar a cabo una Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto.

Una vez realizada la Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto, la EC incluirá la siguiente declaración en el informe de evaluación y en el certificado IFS "parte de la evaluación se ha realizado utilizando TIC - evaluación mixta". Esto aumenta la transparencia con los clientes de la empresa, los distribuidores y otras partes interesadas.

Más información

En la columna de la derecha encontrará todos los documentos pertinentes relativos a la Evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto

• Nuestra declaración "Onsite First with IFS Assessments" explica nuestra posición y aclara nuestro enfoque. Está disponible en inglés, francés, alemán, italiano y español.
• En el protocolo de Evaluación de IFS con enfoque mixto puede encontrar todos los detalles técnicos importantes relativos a este nuevo enfoque. Por el momento, el documento sólo está disponible en inglés. Se traducirá a nuestras principales lenguas.
• Los listados de requisitos adaptados para cada Estándar IFS y Programas Global Markets muestran los requisitos que deben comprobarse totalmente in situ y los que pueden evaluarse total o parcialmente en remoto. Los documentos sólo están disponibles en inglés.
• Una hoja informativa que ofrece una visión general resumida y clara de las características más importantes de esta Evaluación IFS mixta. El documento sólo está disponible en inglés.
• El boletín del IFS que presenta la evaluación IFS con enfoque mixto (IFS Split Assessment) en nuestros cinco idiomas principales.