ISO 9001:2026 is the sixth edition of the international quality management system standard. It sets requirements for managing quality, meeting customer expectations and improving performance. It replaces the 2015 edition of the standard.

ISO published the new edition on 16 September 2026. Organisations can now use the published requirements to review their systems and plan their next steps.

The update gives greater emphasis to leadership, quality culture and ethical behaviour. It makes the distinction between risks and opportunities clearer, improves explanatory guidance and adopts the latest Harmonized Structure. The familiar foundations of customer focus, process management and continual improvement remain.

Publication does not automatically cancel an existing certificate. Continue meeting your certification obligations and check its validity and transition arrangements with your certification body.

Organisations certified to ISO 9001:2015 must complete their transition to ISO 9001:2026 by 30 September 2029. Agree an audit programme with your certification body early enough to complete the required changes and resolve any findings before the deadline.

The certification body checks your system against the revised requirements. ISO says this can usually be combined with a surveillance or recertification audit. Agree the timing and evidence needed with your provider.

Yes. It carries forward the climate-change considerations introduced in the 2024 amendment. Review their relevance to your organisation and quality management system.

Quality culture concerns how leadership and everyday behaviour support quality. The revision gives greater attention to ethical behaviour and people's awareness of their contribution to an effective quality management system.

Start with a gap review. Keep the parts of your system that work and update processes, documentation and staff awareness where the revised requirements affect them. A complete restart is not normally necessary.

It is the shared structure used by ISO management system standards. Common headings and concepts help organisations coordinate quality management with other systems, such as environmental management.

During the transition period, ask your chosen certification body whether it is still accepting applications for ISO 9001:2015. From 31 March 2028, new and initial accredited certifications may only be issued to ISO 9001:2026. Providers may close applications earlier, so confirm their arrangements before committing.

Also check that the provider's accreditation covers the certification offered. UKAS says ISO 9001:2026 certification must not be described as accredited until the provider's accreditation transition has been approved.

Ask your certification body for a written quote covering the transition assessment, any extra audit time and follow-up work. Separately budget for staff time, training and any consultancy you choose. Confirm what is included before agreeing a programme.

ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, an independent, non-governmental organisation whose members are national standards bodies. It develops international standards through expert collaboration.

ISO is a universal short name, inspired by the Greek word isos, meaning equal. It is used across languages rather than changing with the initials of the organisation's translated name.

A quality management system, or QMS, brings together the processes, responsibilities and information a business uses to manage quality. It supports consistent delivery, customer satisfaction, problem-solving and continual improvement.

A quality manual is a document describing how an organisation manages quality. It can help explain the system and point people to relevant procedures and records. The documentation you use should reflect how your business actually works.

No. Certification assesses whether an organisation's management system meets a standard such as ISO 9001. Accreditation assesses the competence and impartiality of the certification body. In the UK, UKAS is the national accreditation body.

Agree a realistic timetable after reviewing your existing arrangements and the work needed. Allow time to implement improvements, gather evidence and book assessments. Ask the certification body for its current availability rather than relying on a fixed promise.

Request a quote for your own organisation and proposed certification scope. Ask for a breakdown of initial assessments, ongoing surveillance, recertification and any additional charges. Keep optional consultancy and training costs separate so you can compare proposals fairly.

ISO 14001:2026 is the environmental management system standard, published on 15 April 2026. It addresses environmental performance, with updated attention to climate change, biodiversity and resource efficiency. Consider it where environmental impacts, customer expectations or business objectives justify a dedicated management system.

Certification involves ongoing assessment, not just an initial audit. Your provider will set out the surveillance and recertification schedule and the conditions for keeping your certificate valid. Confirm how your ISO 9001:2026 transition fits into that schedule.