ISO 9001, the world’s most widely used quality management system standard, has been revised. The new edition, ISO 9001:2026, was published in September 2026 and replaces ISO 9001:2015. All ISO 9001:2015 certificates must be transitioned to ISO 9001:2026 by 30 September 2029. After that date, ISO 9001:2015 certificates will no longer be valid.
The core of ISO 9001 is unchanged: the process approach, customer focus, risk-based thinking and the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle remain at the heart of the standard. Most changes clarify or strengthen existing requirements, but some are genuinely new.
What Is Changing
- Climate change: determine whether climate change is a relevant issue for your organization (4.1).
- Quality culture and ethical behaviour: promoted by top management and part of staff awareness (5.1.1, 7.3).
- Risks and opportunities: now determined, analysed and evaluated separately (6.1).
- Planning of changes: must cover communication, monitoring of effectiveness and review of results (6.3).
- Internal audits: audit objectives must be defined in the audit programme (9.2.2).
Key Transition Dates
- From 1 January 2027: BCI CERT can conduct transition audits and initial certification audits against ISO 9001:2026.
- 31 March 2028: last date for initial certification audits against ISO 9001:2015.
- 31 March 2029: recommended latest date for your transition audit.
- 30 September 2029: end of the transition period.
Read the Full Client Guide
Our ISO 9001:2026 client guide covers the clause-by-clause changes, a recommended transition roadmap, how your transition audit will work, a readiness checklist and answers to common questions.
Read the ISO 9001:2026 client guide and transition plan
To discuss your transition plan or book your transition audit, contact BCI CERT at admin@bcicb.com or 1-844-BCI-CERT.
