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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

IFS è convinta che siano necessarie le visite in sito per valutare efficacemente le buone pratiche di produzione o distribuzione e di igiene, attività centrali per i requisiti di certificazione. Tuttavia, la documentazione può essere controllata a distanza, ed è per questo che abbiamo sviluppato l’IFS Split Assessment. Esso garantisce l'integrità di una certificazione IFS, riconoscendo lo stress che la pandemia Covid-19 ha riversato sugli auditor per i loro viaggi e i rischi di un prolungato contatto in presenza. L’IFS Split Assessment si applica agli Assessment di ricertificazione e alle valutazioni di tutti gli Standard e programmi Global Markets (livello intermedio) di IFS. L'unica eccezione è per l’IFS Broker a cui si applica un protocollo da remoto completo.

L'IFS Split Assessment segue le regole sull'uso delle tecnologie dell'informazione e della comunicazione (CIT) della versione 2020.1 dei requisiti del GFSI Benchmarking e non è stato commentato negativamente dal nostro ente di accreditamento.

La valutazione in sito in primo luogo

IFS ha stabilito che la visita in sito avvenga prima della parte da remoto e almeno il 50% del tempo totale di valutazione sia assegnato alla valutazione in sito.

La parte in sito dell’IFS Split Assessment può essere realizzata in forma annunciata o non annunciata. L'opzione non annunciata dà ad ogni azienda la possibilità di soddisfare il nuovo requisito GFSI nel quale si menziona che almeno ogni terza valutazione IFS sia eseguita non annunciata.

La visita in sito è completata dalla parte di valutazione da remoto, che comprende un esame delle ulteriori informazioni documentate e un attento controllo incrociato della documentazione e delle registrazioni. Questa parte si esegue dopo la visita in sito, in quanto la conoscenza acquisita durante la visita in sito è la base per una valutazione mirata e completa della documentazione. L'audit da remoto deve avvenire entro 14 giorni dalla valutazione in sito.

Pianificazione e preparazione di un IFS Split Assessment

• L'azienda dovrebbe chiarire in anticipo con i propri clienti se accettano un certificato basato sull’IFS Split Assessment.
• Il sito da valutare e il suo ente di certificazione devono eseguire una valutazione del rischio per identificare se un IFS Split Assessment sia tecnicamente possibile.
• L'uso delle tecnologie dell'informazione e della comunicazione (TIC) durante il processo di valutazione richiede un accordo scritto tra l'azienda e l'ente di certificazione. L'ente di certificazione e il sito valutato devono disporre di un'infrastruttura informatica (IT) e di un ambiente adeguati (ad esempio l'accesso a Internet).
• L'azienda valutata deve assicurarsi di avere tutti i documenti e le registrazioni pertinenti disponibili in formato digitale.
• IFS ha identificato in ogni check list degli standard e dei programmi Global Markets (livello intermedio) quali requisiti possono essere valutati in sito, da remoto, e quelli che devono essere sottoposti a controlli incrociati. Questo utile documento fornisce alle aziende e agli auditor chiare linee guida su come condurre un IFS Split Assessment.

Dopo aver completato l’IFS Split Assessment, l'ente di certificazione includerà la seguente dichiarazione nel rapporto di valutazione e sul certificato IFS: "parte della valutazione è stata eseguita utilizzando le TIC - IFS Split Assessment ". Ciò aumenta la trasparenza con i clienti dell’azienda, i retailer e altri stakeholder.

Più informazioni

Nella colonna di destra, troverete tutti i documenti pertinenti per quanto riguarda l’IFS Split Assessment:

• La dichiarazione IFS "Onsite First with IFS Assessments" spiega la nostra posizione e chiarisce il nostro approccio. È disponibile in inglese, francese, tedesco, italiano e spagnolo.
• Nel protocollo IFS Split Assessment si possono trovare tutti i dettagli tecnici importanti riguardanti l'approccio suddiviso di IFS.
• Le checklist adattate per ogni Standard IFS e Programma Global Markets mostrano i requisiti che devono essere controllati completamente in sito e quelli che possono essere valutati completamente o parzialmente da remoto. I documenti sono disponibili solo in inglese.
• Una scheda informativa che fornisce una panoramica chiara delle caratteristiche più importanti dell’IFS Split Assessment. Il documento è disponibile solo in inglese.
• La Newsletter dell'IFS che presenta l’IFS Split Assessment nelle nostre cinque lingue principali.