ISO 9001:2026 for Quality Management Systems Revised for the First Time in a Decade

A new edition of the world’s most widely used framework for building and maintaining quality-driven organizations has been published by BSI, the UK’s national standards body, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

BS EN ISO 9001: 2026 Quality management systems – Requirements is the standard’s first revision in more than a decade. With nearly 1.5 million certifications to ISO 9001 worldwide covering 2.3 million sites, BS EN ISO 9001 has a proven track record of helping organisations of every size build trust and compete across increasingly complex and interconnected global supply chains. Adoption of the standard supports market entry and helps businesses improve the quality and consistency of their products and services by putting clear processes and continuous improvement at the heart of operations. The standard can help organisations work more efficiently, reduce waste, make better use of resources, increase customer satisfaction and build greater trust with customers and stakeholders.

The updated standard reflects how international trade is changing, and aims to help organisations strengthen resilience, meet evolving customer expectations and deliver consistent value across increasingly interconnected global markets.

BS EN ISO 9001 is rooted in the original British standard for quality management, first published by BSI in 1979, which was adopted internationally by ISO in 1987 to become BS EN ISO 9001.

The 2026 edition responds to today’s complex operating environment, placing greater emphasis on leadership, quality culture and ethical behaviour, and providing greater clarity on how to consider risks and opportunities to support better strategic decision-making. The goal is to help organisations build trust with customers and trading partners worldwide.

An updated Annex A aims to help users better understand the intent of the requirements and apply them consistently across regions and cultures, while adoption of the latest Harmonised Structure for ISO management system standards simplifies integration with other management system standards, supporting more efficient, integrated management systems. Organisations already using BS EN ISO 9001 will find the new edition a natural evolution, BSI states.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive at BSI, said: ‘In our interconnected world with complex global supply chains, a consistent approach that improves quality has never been more critical. The latest update to BS EN ISO 9001 is a testament to continued world-wide collaboration, ensuring the standard remains relevant and fit for purpose.

For more information on the standard, please click here. 

For more detail on the revisions to the standard, please click here or watch this webinar.

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