IFA v6

The new IFA version was launched on 26 April 2022 and will become obligatory on 1 May 2023. This version will then replace all previous versions.

IFA v6 is available in two parallel editions: IFA v6 Smart, our flagship standard, and IFA v6 GFS for producers who require certification with recognition from, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
We estimate that v6 GFS will achieve recognition from GFSI by early 2023. V5.4-1-GFS will remain valid until IFA v6 GFS has achieved GFSI recognition.

BRC and IFS certified post-farm gate product handling facilities will accept both IFA v6 editions.

Certification body training will take place throughout the summer of 2022, and audits to IFA v6 will be possible as soon as this process is completed. To find out more about what has changed, visit the IFA v6 page .

To find your applicable IFA v6 documents, please visit the  IFA v6 documents generator.

IFA v5.4-1-GFS

V5.4-1-GFS is the current obligatory IFA standard version for producers who require a certification with GFSI recognition. It replaces IFA v5.3-GFS.

For fruit and vegetable producers, v5.4-1-GFS replaced v5.3-GFS as of January 2022. For aquaculture producers, v5.4-1-GFS replaces v5.3-GFS from 1 May 2022.

Audits conducted for each scope before the aforementioned dates will be GFSI-recognized through their full certification cycle. Fruit and vegetables audits conducted on or after 22 January 2022 and aquaculture audits conducted on or after 1 May 2022 must use the IFA v5.4-1-GFS checklist and general regulations and achieve certification to this version.

V5.4-1-GFS will remain valid until IFA v6 GFS has achieved GFSI recognition. We estimate this to be in Q1 2023. Audits conducted before this will be GFSI-recognized through their full certification cycle.

For hops producers, IFA v6 will replace v5.3 – there will be no v5.4 update for the hops product category and producers will transition directly to v6. IFA v5.3 does not have GFSI recognition and v6 will also not be benchmarked.

IFA v5.2

IFA v5.2 is no longer GFSI-recognized, but continues to be available for audit until 30 April 2023, when IFA v6 will become obligatory. This edition is suitable for producers who do not require certification with GFSI recognition. Audits conducted before the date on which v6 becomes obligatory – 1 May 2023 – will remain valid for their full certification cycle.