Global public health organization NSF International announced that it has become the first North American certification body to be accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to offer certification to the IFS Logistics (International Featured Standard Logistics) standard.
IFS Logistics establishes a uniform, common standard by which an organization’s logistics activities can be evaluated. Used by companies that make both food and non-food products, the standard applies to all aspects of logistics: transport, storage, distribution, loading, unloading and delivery by road, rail or ship. NSF’s accreditation to this standard means that NSF’s auditors will be able to certify that companies meet the requirements of this standard, which is accepted globally and used by hundreds of distribution centers in more than 24 countries.
Use of a common standard helps companies evaluate storage and distribution providers against the same criteria, which improves transparency, confidence and oversight and reduces the amount of time spent screening suppliers. Companies can achieve additional cost and time reductions by bundling a variety of NSF audits at the same time such as ISO registration, food safety certification and customer-specific propriety audits.
Retailers worldwide are beginning to require IFS Logistics certifications from their storage and distribution partners to help ensure a continual commitment to food safety throughout the supply chain, providing consumers with safe, quality food and non-food products. NSF International, a global certifier to GFSI benchmarked standards with technical expertise and consistently calibrated auditors, has continued to expand its global auditor network to meet the demand for IFS Logistics certifications worldwide.
“Food safety doesn’t end in the field or processing facility; it must continue throughout the entire supply chain including storage and distribution providers. NSF International can help companies earn certification to IFS Logistics to demonstrate their compliance and ongoing commitment to food safety and quality,” said Robert Prevendar, global managing director, supply chain food safety at NSF International.
IFS Logistics also provides a path toward compliance with new and existing regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). IFS Logistics shares many essential requirements with FSMA for food storage and distribution operations, including comparable requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plans, supplier management, food defense and sanitation.
“Food safety and quality requirements are becoming more stringent for companies at all levels of the supply chain, including storage and distribution. Forward-thinking food distributors are taking further measures to validate their food safety and quality practices and bolster brand protection by earning accredited IFS Logistics certification from trusted organizations like NSF International,” said Jorge Hernandez, senior vice president of food safety and quality assurance, US Foods, one of America’s leading foodservice distributors to restaurants, healthcare and hospitality facilities, government operations and educational institutions. “We’re committed to certifying every one of our 64 distribution centers through NSF International to demonstrate our continuing leadership in food safety and quality assurance. Going above and beyond regulatory compliance for the benefit of the customer should be the goal of every company.”
“Even though the FSMA rules aren’t finalized, US Foods believes that with IFS Logistics certification through NSF International, we are already meeting 98 percent of the proposed rules,” said Greg Pallaske, director of regulatory compliance at US Foods.
NSF International can also provide IFS Food, IFS PACsecure, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification (SQF, BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000, GLOBALG.A.P., CanadaGAP), plus expert auditing, consulting and technical services, HACCP validation and inspection, organic food certification through QAI (Quality Assurance International), and specialty food verification and certification (including Non-GMO Project and gluten-free).
Contact [email protected] or call 877-893-1325 to learn more about NSF International’s global food safety certification and training services.
