Standards Pillar

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IDF Pillars

Standards

IDF contributes to the development of science-based standards, guidelines, codes of practice and related methodologies across all working areas, to improve regulatory environments for the dairy sector.

The nature of the challenges facing the dairy supply chain is increasingly multi-disciplinary in nature. IDF proactively contributes to the development of science-based globally harmonised standards, guidelines, codes of practice and related methodologies across multiple working areas, to continually improve regulatory environments across the dairy sector. 

It does this through proactively engaging with key international organisations and influencers such as the international food standards setting body Codex Alimentarius and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). IDF also identifies knowledge gaps, prioritising its activities, proposing solutions, and seeking a consensus on these.

Science-based standards to ensure trust

IDF has contributed to the development of standards for the dairy sector since 1903, and has closely collaborated with Codex since its inception in 1963, and are long-standing partners in tackling existing and newly emerging threats to food safety, with IDF serving as an essential technical advisor on all issues related to milk and milk products.

Since then and to the present day, IDF has closely collaborated with leading standards organizations to share its standards and expertise for the dairy sector, notably other international organizations including FAO, WHO, OIE and ISO.

Our work helps countries to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade by pro-actively contributing to the development of science-based, globally harmonised standards, guidelines, codes of practice and related methodologies, to continually improve the regulatory environments of the dairy sector.

Our strength lies in building consensus, developing dairy standards grounded in science to enhance trust

Standard setting activities

IDF is currently involved in four very different types of standard setting activities:

  • Food standards for international trade and food safety with Codex
  • Animal health and welfare standards for international trade with OIE
  • Standards for methods of analysis and sampling for dairy jointly with ISO, and also with AOAC, USP
  • Various standards for milking machines, dairy safety and quality management systems, environmental standards etc. with ISO and other organizations

Learn more about standards

The breadth of issues IDF covers in its work is extensive. Find out more about the work we do.

Food Standards

Helping to ensure that consumers can trust dairy products produced around the ...

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Methods of Analysis & Sampling

Facilitating trade and building trust in the dairy sector through standardized methods for the safety, quality and composition of milk and dairy ...

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Animal Health & Welfare

IDF work on animal health and welfare focuses on dialogue and discussion on, and form consensus about new developments in the dairy sector field of ...

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Stakeholders

IDF provides expertise to global stakeholders across a range of areas and plays a central role in contributing to the development of global standards ...

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Related reports & publications

IDF provides a permanent source of authoritative scientific and other information on a whole range of topics relevant to the dairy sector.

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Related news & insights

IDF provides a permanent source of authoritative scientific and other information on a whole range of topics relevant to the dairy sector.