ISO regularly reviews its standards to ensure they remain up to date and adapts them to new legal requirements, changing circumstances and the needs of industry. A further aim is to improve compatibility between the standards.
ISO 9001:2015 has been in force for the last eleven years, so a comprehensive update was necessary.
ISO 9001:2026 has been published. The new edition of the world’s most important standard for quality management builds on the tried-and-tested principles of ISO 9001:2015 and develops them further in a targeted manner.
Unlike the 2015 revision, this update does not focus on fundamental structural changes. Process orientation, the PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking remain in place. Instead, the revision emphasises continuity and takes account of current developments in business and society.
Key new features include greater emphasis on quality culture, ethical behaviour, opportunity-oriented thinking, climate change and an expanded approach to change management. In addition, the wording of numerous requirements has been clarified and adapted to the current Harmonised Structure.
he publication of ISO 9001:2026 marks the start of a three-year transition period during which the changes can be implemented gradually.
ISO 9001:2026 follows the current Harmonised Structure (HS), which serves as a standardised framework for ISO management system standards. This simplifies integration with other management systems and further enhances compatibility between different standards.
In early 2024, the ISO required organisations to consider climate change within their management systems through directly applicable amendments (AMD 1:2024-02).
The new ISO 9001: 2026 revision explicitly incorporates climate change into the standard text. It is important that:
Until now, organisations have focused too heavily on risks when implementing measures to manage opportunities and risks. Opportunities have often been under-represented. The standard-setter has therefore separated the two and now addresses opportunities (Section 6.1.3) separately from risks (6.1.2).
In section 7.3 “Awareness”, a new requirement addresses the organisation’s quality culture and ethical behaviour. Top management must now promote both quality culture and ethical conduct (section 5.1.1). Organisations must also ensure that all individuals working under their control are aware of the quality culture.
Senior management is required to develop a quality policy that takes the organisation’s context into account. A new requirement is that this policy should also support the organisation’s strategic direction.
Informative Annex A, ‘Explanation of the structure, terminology and concepts’, has been thoroughly revised. It will now contain significantly more detailed explanations of all the main chapters of the standard.
Annex B (Other ISO/TC 176 International Standards on quality management and quality management systems) has been removed without replacement.
Important: The fundamental principles of ISO 9001 remain unchanged. Process orientation, the PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking continue to form the foundation of an effective quality management system. The revision focuses primarily on the targeted further development of existing requirements.
The currently valid standard is ISO 9001:2015. However, the International Organization for Standardization is working on a revision that is expected to appear in its final form in September 2026.
The revision process is ongoing, and the Final Draft International Standard is now available. The final version is expected for September 2026 as ISO 9001:2026.
Although considered a “minor” revision, delays occurred. The responsible committee had issued a Committee Draft for comments, but due to extensive stakeholder feedback and the high need for discussion, the draft was returned to the Technical Committee and Working Group. The Draft International Standard is now available for review.
ISO 9001:2026 introduces mainly structural updates. The standard aligns with the Harmonised Structure, includes climate change directly in the requirements, separates opportunities and risks, and strengthens expectations around quality culture and ethical behaviour. Most adjustments are editorial, and there are no fundamental changes compared with the ISO 9001:2015 requirements.
For the time being, the revision has no direct impact on existing ISO 9001 certificates – these remain valid.
There will be a transition period, which is typically three years from the date of publication. During this period, organisations must migrate to the new version of the standard.
No, a three-year transition period begins on the date of publication of the new ISO 9001 standard.
During this period, organisations must adapt their quality management systems and undergo a certification audit.
The transition is usually carried out during the recertification audit, although it can also take place as part of a surveillance audit.
ISO 9001 is the most widely used international management system standard and is often described as the “mother of all standards”.
In many sectors, certification is required for market participation.
Certified organisations will eventually need to transition to the new version to maintain a valid certificate.
Although the final version is not yet available, organisations should stay informed about its development.
Once published, it will be crucial to quickly review the ISO 9001:2026 changes and incorporate them into the QMS.
As soon as the final text is published, organisations should analyse the new requirements and implement any necessary adjustments.
These changes must then be communicated throughout the organisation.
For example, a gap analysis can be used to identify areas requiring attention.
Proactive planning ensures that systems can be updated in good time.
Yes. ISO 9001 quality management systems integrate well with other systems, including:
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The new version of ISO 9001 is on its way, and the finish line is approaching. The expected modifications focus mainly on structure. Once the final version is published, likely in September 2026, organisations should promptly familiarise themselves with the changes and implement them within their QMS. Significant challenges are not anticipated.
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