KURTH Fleischimporte is IFS certified. This international food standard was defined in 2003 by representatives of the European food retail trade for the compilation of a standardised food safety standard. The assignment is the inspection and certification of systems for the securing of food safety and the quality in the production of foods.

The IFS defines requirements, procedures and evaluation of the audits as well as a requirement profile for the certification authorities and auditors.

The IFS catalogue of requirements contains:

• requirements for the quality management system
• responsibility of the management
• resource management
• manufacturing process
• measurements, analyses and improvements

The IFS was specifically developed for companies which supply private brand products to trading firms. The objectives are the creation of a basis of valuation for all producers of private brands, standardised phrasing and implementation of the audits, mutual acceptance of the audits and a higher transparency within the complete supply chain.

Basis of the IFS is the quality management standard ISO 9001:2000, extended by the principles of good production practice – cleaning, disinfection, pest control, maintenance, servicing and training – and of the HACCP. Furthermore, the current EU law regarding the handling of allergens and gene-modified organisms (GVOs) was included in the currently valid version 4.