IFS
The International Food Standard (IFS) for the food industry serves as an admission ticket to retail trade in Germany and France and partially to certain neighboring countries. The IFS builds on ISO 9001 and implements additional legislative requirements, the principles of good practice, HACCP risk analysis and refers to EU legislation concerning the handling of allergens and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The latest version, version 5, of the IFS has been in force since January 1, 2008. The goals of the IFS are the creation of a single assessment basis for all producers of retail brands, universal formulation and conduct of the audits, mutual recognition of the audits and a high degree of transparency throughout the supply chain. The service is available for trade, food producers and auditing organizations.

SQF
The SQF Program is another leading global food safety and quality certification program and management system designed to meet the needs of buyers and suppliers worldwide. The program provides independent certification that a supplier’s food safety and quality management system complies with international and domestic food safety regulations. This enables suppliers to assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards. SQF offers two different standards, or “codes” —SQF 1000 for primary producers (farms) and SQF 2000 for manufacturers (processing plants). Within each code there are three levels—fundamental food safety, HACCP-based food safety plans and comprehensive food safety and quality management systems. This allows every supplier, from the smallest farmer to the largest manufacturer, to be eligible for SQF certification.

GLOBALGAP
The challenges of globalization are felt the most by the primary food sector. GLOBALGAP (formerly known as EUREPGAP) has established itself as a key reference for Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in the global marketplace, by translating consumer requirements into agricultural production in a rapidly growing list of countries—currently more than 80. GLOBALGAP is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products (including aquaculture) around the globe. GLOBALGAP is a pre-farm-gate standard, which means that the certificate covers the process of the certified product from farm inputs like feed or seedlings and all the farming activities until the product leaves the farm. GLOBALGAP is a business-to-business label and is therefore not directly visible to consumers. This standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by minimizing detrimental environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety as well as animal welfare.