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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 languages

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

L’IFS Split Assessment (évaluation IFS fractionnée)

L'IFS est convaincu que les visites sur site sont nécessaires pour évaluer efficacement les bonnes pratiques de fabrication ou de distribution et d'hygiène qui sont au cœur des exigences de certification. Cependant, la documentation peut être vérifiée à distance, c'est pourquoi nous avons développé l'IFS Split Assessment. Cette évaluation garantit l'intégrité d'une certification IFS tout en reconnaissant des difficultés liées aux déplacements des auditeurs et les risques d'un contact en présentiel d’une longue durée pendant la pandémie de la Covid-19. L'IFS Split Assessment s'applique aux évaluations de recertification et aux évaluations de tous les référentiels IFS et des programmes Global Markets (niveau intermédiaire). La seule exception concerne l’IFS Broker pour lequel un protocole d’évaluation complète à distance s'applique.

 

L'évaluation sur site en premier

L'IFS détermine que la visite sur site doit avoir lieu avant la partie à distance, et au moins 50% du temps total de l'évaluation est alloué à l'évaluation sur site.

La partie sur site de l’IFS Split Assessment peut avoir lieu de manière annoncée ou non annoncée. L'option non annoncée donne à chaque entreprise la possibilité de satisfaire à la nouvelle exigence de la GFSI selon laquelle au moins une évaluation IFS sur trois doit être effectuée de manière non annoncée.

La visite sur site est complétée par la partie à distance de l'évaluation, qui comprend un examen d'autres informations documentées et un recoupement minutieux de la documentation et des enregistrements. Cette partie fait suite à la visite sur site, car les informations obtenues à cette occasion constituent la base d'une évaluation ciblée et complète de la documentation. L'audit à distance doit avoir lieu dans les 14 jours suivant l'évaluation sur site.

 

Planification et préparation d’un IFS Split Assessment

• L'entreprise doit clarifier à l'avance avec ses clients s'ils acceptent un certificat basé sur l'évaluation fractionnée.
• Le site à être évalué et son organisme de certification (OC) doivent effectuer une évaluation des risques pour déterminer si un IFS Split Assessment est techniquement possible.
• L'utilisation des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) pendant le processus d'évaluation nécessite un accord écrit entre l'entreprise et l'organisme de certification. L'organisme de certification et le site évalué doivent disposer d'une infrastructure et d'un environnement informatique appropriés (par exemple, un accès à Internet).
• L'entreprise évaluée doit s'assurer qu'elle dispose de tous les documents et enregistrements pertinents sous forme numérique.
• L'IFS a identifié dans chaque checklist des référentiels et programmes Global Markets, les exigences qui peuvent être évaluées sur site, à distance, et celles qui doivent être vérifiées par recoupement. Ce document utile donne aux entreprises et aux auditeurs des directives claires sur la façon de mener un Ifs Split Assessment.

Après avoir effectué l’IFS Split Assessment, l’OC inclura la phrase suivante dans le rapport d'évaluation et sur le certificat IFS : "une partie de l'évaluation a été réalisée à l'aide de technologies de l'information et de la communication (ICT) - Split Assessment". Cela augmente la transparence avec les clients, les distributeurs et les autres parties prenantes d'une entreprise.

 

Informations supplémentaires

Dans la colonne de droite, vous trouverez tous les documents pertinents concernant l'IFS Split Assessment :

• La prise de position IFS "Onsite First with IFS Assessments" explique notre position et clarifie notre approche. Elle est disponible en anglais, français, allemand, italien et espagnol.
• Dans le protocole de l’IFS Split Assessment, vous pouvez trouver tous les détails techniques importants concernant l'approche IFS Split Assessment. 
• Les checklist du protocole IFS Split Assessment pour chaque référentiel IFS et chaque programme Global Markets indiquent les exigences à vérifier entièrement sur site et celles qui peuvent être évaluées entièrement ou partiellement à distance. Les documents sont disponibles uniquement en anglais.
• Une fiche d'information donnant un aperçu condensé et clair des caractéristiques les plus importantes de l’IFS Split Assessment. Le document est disponible uniquement en anglais.
• La Newsletter IFS présente l’IFS Split Assessment dans nos cinq langues principales.