IFA v6-Smart vs. IFA v6-GFS: What Producers Need to Know
At Kiwa, we have extensive experience providing GLOBALG.A.P. IFA – Integrated Farm Assurance certification. Amongst others, we offer certification for IFA v6-Smart and IFA v6-GFS standards. Starting in January 2025, both versions will be valid in parallel. While meeting the standard owner’s requirements may present challenges for producers, achieving certification through Kiwa opens doors to expanded markets for vegetables and fruits across Europe and beyond.
Our experts are here to address any questions during the application process, ensuring you select the GLOBALG.A.P. version that best aligns with your needs. Let’s take a closer look at the two versions: IFA v6-Smart and IFA v6-GFS.
IFA v6-Smart vs. IFA v6-GFS
Both editions are equivalent in terms of quality and scope but are designed to cater to different producer groups, depending on their specific certification requirements.
IFA v6-Smart:
• Is intended for most producers.
• This version is flexible, result-oriented and in line with the GLOBALG.A.P. philosophy.
• Applicable to producers who do not require GFSI certification.
IFA v6-GFS:
• Designed for producers who need GFSI certification (e.g. for the US market).
• This version has more detailed requirements aligned with GFSI standards. (e.g. unannounced audits, annual observations of high-risk products required)
• Applicable to customers requiring GFSI recognition (e.g. some retail chains, customers who have GFSI certified fruit and vegetable processing).
The key differences between the standards:
• Approach to requirements: IFA v6 Smart is fully results-oriented, while IFA v6 GFS includes more detailed requirements to meet GFSI standards.
• General regulations: There are additional rules in the GFS edition, such as no prior notification of audits by certification bodies and additional conditions for extending the validity of the certificate.
• Compliance levels: IFA v6 GFS has more criteria rated as "Major Must" compared to the Smart edition, which means stricter requirements in key areas.
• System fees: The system participation fee for IFA v6 GFS is higher due to additional administrative activities related to GFSI benchmarking.
Which standard do I need to choose?
The selection of the appropriate edition depends on the specific needs of the producer and the requirements of the market in which it operates. Both editions aim to promote responsible agricultural practices,but differ in the level of detail of requirements and procedures to meet different expectations and industry standards.
Kiwa provides all interested producers with a tailor-made offer, adapted to the size of the company, area and number of crops requested for certification, etc. In addition to GLOBALG.A.P. certification, Kiwa Polska also provides module certification, i.e. GRASP, CoC and client extensions, e.g. PLUS, NURTURE, GROW.
Our team of experts is available to address any questions or concerns at the application stage, helping clients select the most appropriate version of the standard tailored to their specific needs. Do not hesitate to reach out to food@kiwa.com if you have any other question or require a quote.