On 16 September 2026, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the highly anticipated international standard ISO 9001:2026 Quality management systems – Requirements (6th edition).

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is a globally recognised international standard for quality management. It helps organisations of all sizes and across all sectors improve their performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality. Its requirements specify how to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve a quality management system. Implementing ISO 9001 means that an organisation has effective processes in place and appropriately trained staff to ensure the consistent quality of the products or services it provides.

Why is ISO 9001 important?

With more than one million certificates issued to organisations in 189 countries, ISO 9001 is one of the most widely used quality management standards in the world. Within the ISO 9000 family of standards, which defines seven quality management principles, including a strong customer focus and continual improvement, ISO 9001 is the only standard against which organisations can be certified. However, certification is not mandatory.

Key benefits for organisations:

• Customer confidence: the standard supports the implementation of reliable quality management processes that contribute to greater customer confidence and satisfaction.
• Effective complaint handling: ISO 9001 provides a framework for effectively handling customer complaints and contributes to the timely and satisfactory resolution of issues.
• Process improvement: the standard helps identify and eliminate inefficiencies, streamline operations and promote evidence-based decision-making, which can lead to cost savings and improved results.
• Ongoing optimisation: regular audits and reviews supported by ISO 9001 enable organisations to continually improve their quality management systems, maintain competitiveness and support long-term success.

What is different about ISO 9001:2026?

The sixth and current edition of the world’s leading quality management standard builds on its proven foundations and introduces targeted updates designed to improve its usability and ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing digital environment.

The 2026 edition focuses on improving the clarity of requirements to make them easier to apply for organisations of different sizes, levels of maturity and areas of activity. The new edition also places greater emphasis on quality culture and leadership, and addresses risks and opportunities separately, with the aim of supporting organisations in taking proactive measures to achieve positive outcomes. Closer alignment with other ISO management system standards also makes it easier to integrate ISO 9001 into organisations’ existing management systems, regardless of their size or sector.

Further information about ISO 9001:2026 is available on the website of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The CAF Centre has already started delivering training courses focused on the new ISO 9001:2026 standard. The first training course took place on 1 October 2026, and another course on this standard will be held in early 2027. The exact date of the training course will be published in the Open Training Activities section.

Updated 08.10.2026