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IFS Food: what chapter 4.13 requires for pest controlIFS Food: chapter 4.13

For food manufacturers that produce private labels for German retail, IFS Food is usually a customer requirement. Version 8 covers pest monitoring and control in chapter 4.13: risk-based, fully documented and with a trend analysis that shows whether the measures are working.IFS Food version 8 covers pest monitoring in chapter 4.13: risk-based, documented and with trend analysis.

As of 10/2026 · sources linked directly on the page

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Key facts at a glance

Risk-based

Measures are based on the business's surroundings, products and building fabric and are laid down in writing (4.13.2).

Every inspection documented

Inspections, measures and every infestation are documented, and implementation is tracked (4.13.4).

Effectiveness with trend analysis

Effectiveness is monitored, including trend analysis, so that action can be taken in good time (4.13.7).

What the standard requires

IFS Food version 8, chapter 4.13: pest monitoring and control

The chapter has seven requirements. Here they are in our own words, alongside how you can prove them with digital monitoring.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.1Buildings and equipment protected against infestation

Premises and equipment are designed, built and maintained so that pest infestation is prevented.

Repeated alerts at the same spot reveal structural weak points before they become a problem.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.2Risk-based, documented measures

Defined and implemented, including target pests, a bait location plan, on-site labeling of bait, responsibilities, the products used and the frequency of inspections.

The location plan, stations and responsibilities are stored in the app, and every station has a unique name.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.3Service provider with contract and oversight

If a service provider is commissioned, the requirements are set out in the contract. A competent person in the company oversees the work, and responsibility stays with the company.

Your QM team sees the same alerts as the service provider and can trace every response.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.4Documenting inspections and measures

Inspections and the resulting measures are documented, implementation is monitored, and every infestation is recorded.

Every event has a time stamp, a station and the documented response, with no paper list.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.5Working bait and traps

Bait, traps and insect killers work, are available in sufficient numbers, are fit for purpose, correctly placed and used in a way that prevents contamination.

Every station reports continuously that it is working. If one fails, you see it immediately.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.6Checking incoming goods for pests

Incoming deliveries are checked for pests on arrival, and findings are recorded.

Stations at goods receiving report activity even between deliveries.

IFS Food v8, 4.13.7Effectiveness with trend analysis

The effectiveness of the measures is monitored, including trend analysis, so that action can be taken in good time. The records are available.

The history per station and site is the trend analysis, and it is generated without extra effort.

Sources: IFS Food version 8 (PDF), chapter 4.13 IFS Food at the publisher IFS Logistics
Summary in our own words based on the original English version (April 2023). The original text is authoritative.

Where audits get stuck on pest monitoring

In practice, it rarely fails because of the location plan, but because of 4.13.4 and 4.13.7: inspections are documented, but what happened afterwards is not recorded anywhere, and a trend analysis only exists as the service provider's annual report. With twelve spot checks a year, it is hard to show a trend.

A digital history answers both questions for every day: what was reported, who responded and when, and how activity is developing in each area. The IFS guideline on pest control describes digital monitoring as the new state of the art.

IFS Logistics: the same principles in the warehouse

Logistics providers in the food sector are audited under IFS Logistics. There, too, preventive, documented pest management applies to storage and handling areas.

The leverage is especially great in large halls: stations report from areas that otherwise only see a person during inspection rounds.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers

Does chapter 4.13 still apply if we have hired a pest controller?

Yes. Under 4.13.3, the requirements are then set out in the service contract, and a competent person in the company oversees the work. Responsibility for the necessary measures stays with the company, even if the service is outsourced.

Does IFS Food require a trend analysis for pest monitoring?

Yes. Under 4.13.7, the effectiveness of the measures is monitored, including trend analysis, so that action can be taken in good time. A digital history per station delivers this analysis continuously instead of once a year.

Does an IFS auditor accept digital logs?

Yes, what matters is traceability: what was found when, and what was done. The IFS guideline on pest control describes digital monitoring as the new state of the art.

Which version of IFS Food currently applies?

This page refers to IFS Food version 8, published in April 2023. You can always find the current status at the publisher, IFS.

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