The revision process for ISO 9001:2026, the next edition of the international standard for quality management systems, continues to progress. The updated version will retain the Annex SL high-level structure, meaning organisations certified to ISO 9001:2015 will still recognise the familiar framework.
key changes introduced in ISO/DIS 9001:2026
Clause 4: Context of the Organisation
One of the most significant updates is the formal inclusion of climate change and sustainability within the organisational context. Quality management systems will now need to consider:
- Environmental and sustainability priorities
- Stakeholder expectations related to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)
- The organisation’s strategic approach to long-term resilience
This ensures that quality management remains aligned with modern expectations and market demands.
Clause 5: Leadership
ISO/DIS 9001:2026 strengthens leadership expectations by explicitly highlighting:
- Ethical behaviour
- Quality culture
Senior leaders must demonstrate a clear, active commitment—such as through transparent communication, targeted training initiatives, and leading by example—to ensure these values become embedded across the organisation.
Clause 6: Planning
Ethical behaviour and quality culture are reinforced within planning activities. Leadership must take responsibility for integrating these principles into strategic plans, ensuring they influence decision-making and risk/opportunity management throughout the organisation.
Clause 7: Support
New awareness requirements have been introduced to strengthen organisational culture. Training, communication, and competence development now need to ensure that ethical behaviour and quality culture are consistently understood and applied at all levels of the organisation.
Clause 8: Operation
Changes to operational requirements are minimal. ISO/DIS 9001:2026 mainly updates terminology and clause references. While organisations should review alignment, the operational impact is expected to be small.
Clause 9: Performance Evaluation
Core performance evaluation processes remain the same:
- Monitoring
- Measurement
- Internal audits
- Management review
However, the DIS places greater emphasis on effective use of data, enabling organisations to:
- Identify meaningful quality trends
- Support informed decision-making
- Demonstrate continuous improvement without adding unnecessary complexity
Clause 10: Improvement
The role of leadership in driving continuous improvement is now more explicit. Organisations will need to show clear evidence that leaders actively support improvement cycles—not only through corrective action, but in fostering consistent, organisation-wide progress.
ISO/DIS 9001:2026 Now Available
The Draft International Standard (DIS) of ISO 9001:2026 is now publicly available for purchase from ISO.
Both industry stakeholders and the general public can review the draft and submit comments via their national mirror committees.
In the UK, this process is managed by BSI, and constructive feedback can be submitted directly for consideration.
The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) is expected in March 2026, with publication of the fully revised standard anticipated in October 2026