In September 2026 the latest version of ISO 9001 the international standard for quality management systems was published. We had long been aware, from drafts, that while there are some changes required to your management system, little has materially changed.
It should also be noted that the first accredited ISO 9001:2026 certificates are not expected to be issued until January 2027, but in the meantime, here we look at the changes.
Quality Culture and Ethical Behaviour
A new concept threaded through the standard is that of quality culture and ethical conduct. While we might consider the implementation of a QMS itself as evidence of this, there are a few other areas that need updating:
- Assign responsibilities to management
- Feature quality culture and ethical behaviour in awareness activity
- The environment for operation of processes now recognises that organisational quality culture and ethical behaviour can influence the working environment.
In addition you may consider:
- Referencing it in the quality policy
- Writing a new quality culture and ethical behaviour policy
- Adding it to the management review agenda.
Risks and Opportunities are now Separated
This is probably a good change as more emphasis was often placed on risks (and the risk-based approach) rather than opportunities.
How do we evidence it? An opportunities register similar to the risk register is probably the easiest.
You should also assess effectiveness of actions in relation to these separately.
Change Management
Clause 6.3 already existed but this update has strengthened areas such as:
- Communicating changes
- Monitoring and Evaluating the effectiveness of changes
- Review the results of the change.
This is more aligned to a normal change management process but you may need to update documentation or change logs if you have them.
New Leadership Requirements
Alongside the need to promote a quality culture and ethical behaviour, Leadership responsibilities have expanded to include promotion of quality culture, ethical behaviour and opportunity-based thinking, while retaining accountability for QMS effectiveness.
Organisational Knowledge
Within clause 7, organisational knowledge has been strengthened with the need to retain, apply and share knowledge. Although many organisations already do this, it’s important to consider how to evidence it.
The guidance also talks about digital systems, knowledge management and knowledge loss prevention (often a quality risk).
Increased Awareness
The awareness clause now includes the quality culture and ethical behaviour we mentioned earlier but also relevant quality objectives.
Updating training is one way to evidence this.
Customer Communication
Clause 8 – Operation had surprisingly few changes considering it is the core of the standard.
Customer Communication now requires information on contingency actions and disruptions affecting product or service delivery.
This has a surprising nod towards business continuity, which many external auditors had already been asking for prior to the update- although not an explicit requirement. We expect this to increase.
Internal Audit Programme
The wording has been refreshed to align more closely with modern risk-based audit programme management and ISO 19011:2026 guidance. Assent’s internal audit programmes are already compliant with this so our clients don’t need to worry!
Management Review
Inputs to the management review have increased and now include:
- Changes in interested parties requirements
- Effectiveness of actions to reduce risks
- Effectiveness of actions addressing opportunities
This is a simple change to the agenda.
Improvement
The clause numbers have been changed meaning a simple update to any quality manual or other documentation.
In addition the following would be considered as improvements:
- Future needs and expectations
- Innovation
- Breakthrough change
- Reorganisation initiatives
Climate Change
The climate change amendment introduced in 2024 remains and has now been fully incorporated into ISO 9001:2026. Organisations must consider whether climate change is a relevant issue within their context and whether interested parties have climate-related requirements.Read more: Incorporating Climate Change within the Context of your Management System
ISO 9001:2026 Transition Timeline
The UK’s accreditation body UAKS has already published a timeline with a three-year transition period as follows:
| Date | Milestone / Activity |
| 16 September 2026 | Publication of ISO 9001:2026 and UKAS acceptance of self-declarations and evidence |
| 01 December 2026 | UKAS ready to begin transition assessment activity |
| 01 January 2027 | Transition decisions commence on a first-come, first-served basis |
| 16 March 2028 | CABs to stop accepting new applications against the previous version of the standard |
| 30 September 2027 | All UKAS transition decisions to be completed |
| 30 September 2029 | CABs to transition all certified customers to the revised standard |
Conclusion on ISO 9001:2026
Many of these changes are relatively minor but Assent’s expert ISO 9001 consultants can assist you in making the changes if you need us.
Bear in mind though, that these are changes to the QMS and so should be managed through your change process (6.3), something auditors may expect evidence of.
However, we do recommend a strong internal audit with our team before you go through the certification audit as this helps to ensure all requirements are embedded and evidenced.
We can also facilitate a management review to wrap up the transition.
