IFS Logistics is the GFSI-recognised standard for storage, distribution and transport. We get logistics operators certified to Version 3, with the 5 KO requirements covered from day one.
IFS Logistics is a Global Food Safety Initiative recognised certification standard for companies whose activities are logistics-oriented, covering storage, distribution and transport of food and non-food products. It was first released in 2006 and forms part of the wider IFS family of standards, alongside IFS Food, IFS Broker and IFS PACsecure.
The current version is IFS Logistics Version 3, which introduced fewer requirements with an optimised protocol and enhanced structure, aligned with Codex Alimentarius and the 2024 GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. Audits to Version 3 became possible from 1 June 2024 and mandatory for all initial certifications and recertifications from 1 December 2024, with a limited exception for audits to Version 2.3 in justified individual cases until 30 November 2025.
IFS Logistics covers storage, distribution, transport and short-term storage or transport of containers. Version 3 significantly expanded the scope, now explicitly covering simple sorting of fruits and vegetables, labelling, transportation of packaged animal feed for the first time, and partly outsourced logistics processing services. The standard does not apply to food or non-food processing activities, except freezing and thawing as a service, nor to trading, importing or purchasing activities.
The scoring system was revised to align with IFS Food Version 8, with the B score reclassified as a deviation, and a new IFS Star status was introduced to highlight sites achieving certification through an unannounced audit.
Every requirement in IFS Logistics Version 3 is scored from A to D, or as a KO. The overall result, and the impact of any KO non-conformance, determines the certification outcome.
| Score | Meaning | Points | What it means for certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Full compliance with the requirement. | 20 points | No action required. Maximises overall score. |
| B | Almost full compliance, classified as a deviation, aligned with the IFS Food v8 approach. | 15 points | Each B reduces the overall score and requires a defined corrective action. |
| C | Partial compliance with significant gaps. | 5 points | Significant impact on overall score. Multiple C scores put certification at risk. |
| D | Non-compliance with the requirement. | 0 points | Severe impact on overall score. |
| KO | Knock-out requirement. Version 3 has 5 KO requirements, reduced from 6 in Version 2.3, but each carries more weight. | N/A | A D rating on any KO requirement triggers an automatic 50% deduction of the total score, jeopardising the entire certification. |
Our mock audit scores your site against the same A to D and KO criteria as the certification body, giving you a predicted overall percentage and a clear view of which requirements need attention before the live audit, with the 5 KO requirements always reviewed first.
Version 3 represents the most significant revision to IFS Logistics in years, expanding scope, simplifying structure and aligning closely with IFS Food Version 8.
Fewer requirements overall, with an enhanced structure and scoring system that more closely maps the actual audit path, making the standard easier to work with in practice.
The scope now explicitly covers simple sorting of fruits and vegetables, labelling, transportation of packaged animal feed for the first time, and partly outsourced logistics processing services.
Clarification on short-term storage and transport of containers, pure service provider organisations of transport and storage, and the exclusion rules that determine what falls outside the standard's scope.
A new sub-chapter, 4.5, combines the former Product Defense chapter from Version 2.3 with the Product Fraud requirement, supported by the IFS Guideline Product Fraud Mitigation.
The B score is reclassified as a deviation, consistent with the approach taken in IFS Food Version 8, and the number of KO requirements was reduced from six to five.
A new designation highlighting sites that achieve certification through an unannounced audit, giving supply chain partners an easily recognisable signal of food safety commitment.
Audits according to Version 3 were possible from 1 June 2024. The new version has been mandatory for all initial certifications and recertifications since 1 December 2024. An exception allows audits according to Version 2.3 until 30 November 2025 in justified individual cases, for example where a fixed audit date had already been set before the deadline. For multi-location audits, all locations and the head office must be audited against the same version.
IFS Logistics certification is required across the storage, distribution and transport sector wherever certified product needs to maintain its assurance through to the next stage of the supply chain.
Operators of ambient, chilled and frozen storage facilities handling food and non-food products on behalf of manufacturers and retailers.
Businesses transporting product between sites, including those now explicitly covered for transportation of packaged animal feed under Version 3's extended scope.
Businesses providing simple sorting of fruits and vegetables or labelling services, now explicitly within scope under Version 3, where previously these activities sat in a grey area.
Organisations that organise transport and storage as a service without directly handling goods, now clarified within the Version 3 scope definitions.
Logistics businesses that subcontract part of their processing services, now explicitly addressed by Version 3's provisions for partly outsourced logistics processing services.
Sites that have demonstrated strong compliance and want to pursue certification through the unannounced audit pathway to achieve IFS Star recognition.
We cover the full scope of IFS Logistics consulting, from initial certification through to IFS Star.
A requirement-by-requirement review of your management system against IFS Logistics Version 3, scored using A to D and KO criteria to produce a predicted result.
Full design and documentation of your management system to Version 3 requirements, covering senior management responsibility, resource management, the logistics process, and measurements, analysis and improvement.
Specific review of all 5 KO requirements, since a D rating on any KO triggers a 50% deduction of the total score and jeopardises certification regardless of overall performance. KO requirements are prioritised in every gap assessment and mock audit.
Development of a programme addressing the combined sub-chapter 4.5 introduced in Version 3, including vulnerability assessment and mitigation measures aligned with the IFS Guideline Product Fraud Mitigation.
Design and review of temperature monitoring and traceability systems for storage and transport, addressing the core product safety requirements of the standard.
Development of supplier agreements and verification procedures for partly outsourced logistics processing services, addressing the new Version 3 provisions for shared responsibility.
A full mock audit scored against Version 3 using A to D and KO criteria, including preparation for the IFS Star unannounced audit pathway.
For currently certified sites, a focused transition programme addressing the structural and scoring changes between Version 2.3 and Version 3 ahead of the next certification audit.
A monthly retainer covering document maintenance, regulatory update alerts, internal audit scheduling and helpline access.
Our 1-on-1, TrustBite-recognised IFS training courses build internal competency in temperature control, traceability and the Version 3 scoring system alongside this consulting programme. Every session is private, customized to your site, and scheduled around your working hours.
Certification follows a defined sequence. Our part of the process typically takes a few weeks. The certification body audit timeline depends on their scheduling and is outside our control.
| Stage | What happens | Our role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gap assessment | Your management system is reviewed against Version 3, with each requirement scored A to D or KO. | We conduct the assessment and deliver a written action plan with a predicted result. | 2 to 3 days |
| 2. KO requirement priority review | All 5 KO requirements are reviewed first, since a D rating on any one triggers a 50% score deduction. | We identify and prioritise any KO gaps for immediate action. | 2 to 3 days |
| 3. System design | The food and product safety management system is designed and documented, covering all chapters of Version 3. | We write all documentation in collaboration with your team. | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 4. Product Fraud and Food Defense | A combined programme is developed addressing sub-chapter 4.5, including vulnerability assessment and mitigation measures. | We develop the programme and supporting documentation. | 3 to 5 days |
| 5. Implementation | The documented system is put into practice. Records begin to accumulate for the evidence period before audit. | We provide implementation support and review emerging records. | 2 to 4 weeks |
| 6. Internal audit | A full internal audit covers Version 3 in full, with priority given to KO requirements. Non-conformances are recorded and closed. | We conduct the internal audit and close all findings. | 2 to 3 days |
| 7. Mock certification audit | A full mock audit scores the site against A to D and KO criteria, producing a predicted overall percentage. | We conduct the mock audit, issue a graded findings report and close all identified gaps. | 2 to 3 days |
| 8. Certification audit | The certification body conducts the audit, announced or unannounced, with IFS Star awarded for unannounced certification. | We provide standby support and draft corrective action responses for any findings. | Up to the certification body |
| 9. Ongoing surveillance | Annual re-audits, with continued monitoring of regulatory developments. | We provide a retainer covering document maintenance, pre-audit preparation and helpline access. | Ongoing |
Our gap assessment scores your current system against IFS Logistics Version 3, giving you a predicted result with the 5 KO requirements reviewed first.
The gap assessment covers the full scope of IFS Logistics Version 3, including senior management responsibility, the food and product safety management system, resource management, the logistics process, and measurements, analysis and improvement. Every requirement is assessed against the A to D and KO scoring criteria used by certification bodies.
Particular attention is paid to the 5 KO requirements. A D rating on any single KO triggers an automatic 50% deduction of the total score, so identifying and closing KO gaps is always the first priority in the resulting action plan.
We review your existing management system documentation against Version 3, including the structural changes from Version 2.3.
Every KO requirement is assessed first, since a single D rating here triggers a 50% score deduction regardless of overall performance.
We assess storage areas, vehicles and handling practices against documented procedures, including temperature control and traceability.
We produce a written gap assessment with a predicted overall percentage and a prioritised action plan.
For operators also holding or pursuing BRCGS Storage and Distribution, we identify shared documentation and management system elements to avoid duplicated work.
The same patterns appear across IFS Logistics audits regardless of operation type. Knowing where KO and D scores cluster is the most effective preparation.
The 5 KO requirements cover the most fundamental aspects of product safety and legality. A D rating on any of these triggers an automatic 50% deduction of the total score, jeopardising the entire certification. Our gap assessment and mock audit prioritise these requirements first.
Sites that retain separate Version 2.3 documentation for Product Defense and Product Fraud, without combining them into the new sub-chapter 4.5 structure, present a system that does not match how Version 3 expects this area to be addressed.
Version 3's optimised protocol maps the audit path differently from Version 2.3. Documentation that has not been restructured to follow the new protocol creates a mismatch that slows the audit and increases the risk of findings, even where the underlying content is sound.
Version 3's new provisions for partly outsourced logistics processing services require supplier agreements and verification activities that many sites have not yet put in place, particularly where outsourcing was previously informal.
With Version 3's scoring aligned to IFS Food v8, the same expectation applies: a documented culture policy without evidence of staff awareness, leadership commitment and measurable objectives across the organisation results in B scores or lower.
Sites now providing sorting, labelling or animal feed transport under the expanded Version 3 scope, but who have not extended their hazard analysis and procedures to cover these activities specifically, leave gaps in areas the standard now explicitly addresses.
The most widely required certification schemes for storage, distribution and logistics operations. The right choice, or combination, depends on your customers and target markets.
| IFS Logistics Version 3 | BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4 | SQF (Storage & Distribution code) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFSI recognised | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Published by | IFS Management GmbH | BRCGS | Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) |
| Scoring or grading | A, B, C, D, KO (IFS Star if unannounced) | AA, A, B, C, D (AA+ if unannounced) | Certified or not certified, no grading |
| Strongest markets | Continental Europe | UK, Commonwealth, North America, global | North America |
| Our consulting | IFS Logistics | BRCGS Storage & Distribution | SQF |
What drives the timeline and cost of an IFS Logistics project. We provide a written proposal with a fixed fee after the initial consultation.
Timeline
How long our consulting work takes
Cost factors
What drives the consulting fee
No existing certification or formal management system. Our consulting work typically takes 3 to 5 weeks. Certification body scheduling is separate and outside our control.
Currently certified sites preparing for their next audit under Version 3. Our consulting work for this typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, focused on structural and scoring changes.
A single warehouse with dedicated transport requires less work than a multi-site operation with a mixed fleet and outsourced services.
Sites now offering sorting, labelling or animal feed transport under the expanded Version 3 scope may need additional hazard analysis and procedure development.
Significant documentation and system work can be shared if you already hold BRCGS Storage and Distribution or SQF. Our consulting work to add IFS Logistics typically takes 1 to 3 weeks.
Sites targeting certification through the unannounced audit pathway to IFS Star benefit from a more thorough mock audit, adding to the scope.
A gap assessment only, a full implementation programme, or a Version 3 transition package each carry different fees. All scopes are defined in writing before work begins.
Certification body audit fees are separate from our consulting fees and paid directly to your chosen IFS-approved certification body. We advise on CB selection during the initial consultation.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from logistics operators preparing for Version 3 certification.
IFS Logistics is a Global Food Safety Initiative recognised certification standard for companies whose activities are logistics-oriented, covering storage, distribution and transport of food and non-food products. It was first released in 2006 and is currently in Version 3, with audits possible from 1 June 2024 and mandatory for all initial certifications and recertifications since 1 December 2024. IFS Logistics certification is recognised globally as part of the IFS family of standards, alongside IFS Food, IFS Broker and IFS PACsecure.
IFS Logistics Version 3 introduced fewer requirements with an optimised protocol and enhanced structure, aligned with Codex Alimentarius and the 2024 GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. Key changes include an extended scope covering simple sorting of fruits and vegetables, labelling, transportation of packaged animal feed for the first time, and partly outsourced logistics processing services. The scoring system was revised to align with IFS Food Version 8, with the B score reclassified as a deviation. A new sub-chapter on Product Fraud and Food Defense was created, combining the former Product Defense chapter with the Product Fraud requirement. A new IFS Star status was introduced to highlight unannounced audits.
Version 3 reduced the number of KO, or knock-out, requirements from six to five, while giving the remaining requirements even more weight. A D rating on any single KO requirement automatically triggers a deduction of 50 percent of the total score, which jeopardises the entire certification regardless of performance elsewhere. The 5 KO requirements cover the most fundamental aspects of a logistics operation's product safety and legality, and are the highest priority area in any gap assessment or mock audit.
IFS Star status is a designation introduced in IFS Logistics Version 3 to highlight sites that have achieved certification through an unannounced audit. It provides supply chain partners with an easily recognisable signal of a site's commitment to food safety and transparency, similar in concept to the AA+ designation used by BRCGS for unannounced audits.
IFS Logistics certification is required by retailers, brand owners and food manufacturers from logistics operators handling their products, including storage, distribution, transport and short-term storage or transport of containers. Version 3 extended the scope to include companies providing simple sorting of fruits and vegetables, labelling services, transportation of packaged animal feed, and organisations that purely organise transport and storage as a service without handling goods directly. IFS Logistics shall not be applied to food or non-food processing activities, except freezing and thawing as a service, nor to trading, importing or purchasing activities.
An IFS Logistics gap assessment reviews your management system against the requirements of Version 3, covering senior management responsibility, the food and product safety management system, resource management, the logistics process, and measurements, analysis and improvement. Each requirement is assessed against the A to D and KO scoring criteria, with particular priority given to the 5 KO requirements, since a D rating on any of these results in a 50 percent score deduction. The assessment produces a predicted result and a prioritised action plan.
The most common IFS Logistics audit issues are: KO requirements scored as D, particularly around temperature control, traceability and pest control, each triggering a 50 percent score deduction. Product fraud and food defense vulnerability assessments not yet updated to reflect the combined Version 3 sub-chapter. Documentation still structured around the Version 2.3 six-chapter layout in place of the optimised Version 3 protocol. Outsourced or partly outsourced logistics processing services not adequately covered by supplier agreements and verification. Food and product safety culture requirements, aligned with IFS Food v8, not yet evidenced through staff awareness and management commitment.
Our consulting work moves fast. From gap assessment to mock audit ready, most operators are there in a few weeks. The total time to certificate depends on when the certification body can schedule your audit, which is outside our control. We make sure our part never holds you up.
Yes. Gap assessments, documentation development, food and product safety management system design and KO requirement review are all available remotely. We work with clients in any country. On-site visits are available for mock audits and where a physical review of warehousing, transport or temperature-controlled areas is needed.
Yes. Many logistics operators hold both IFS Logistics and BRCGS Storage and Distribution certification, particularly where they serve customers across both continental European and UK or international retail supply chains. The two standards share significant common ground in temperature control, traceability and product safety management, so a substantial amount of documentation and system work can be shared between them. We assess your existing certification and scope a programme that addresses the additional requirements specific to the second standard, avoiding duplication of work.
You can commission any of these on their own, with an agreed scope and a written quote, without taking on ongoing consulting. See all food safety services.
To establish the real size of the project before an audit date is booked.
Read about A gap assessment →Where the clause requires audits and nobody internal is independent enough.
Read about An internal audit →To test the chain under timed conditions.
Read about A mock recall exercise →Tell us about your operations, your current certification status and your timeline. We will tell you exactly what Version 3 requires.