A new version of the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard was published on 16th September 2026.

The revised standard builds on the exisiting requirements, with most changes focusing on clarification and a stronger emphasis on areas that help organisations manage quality effectively.

What are the main changes?

The updated standard places greater emphasis on:

• • Quality Culture and Ethical Behaviour
• • Risks and Opportunities

• • Managing Change

• • Leadership and Management Review

• • Interested Parties

In Many cases, organisations will already have arrangements in place to address these areas. The important thing is to review what you currently do, identify any gaps and make any necessary adjustments. There is no need to rewrite procedures or create additional paperwork simply because the standard has changed. Any changes should be appropriate to your organisation and help your quality management system operate effectively. 

Key Transition dates for ISO 9001:2026

UKAS has published the transition arrangements for ISO 9001:2026. The key dates are:

19th September 2026 – ISO 9001:2026 published

16th March 2028 – Certification bodies must stop accepting new applications against the previous version of the standard (ISO 9001:2015). If you’re already certifed, this does not impact you.

30th September 2029 – Deadling for all certified customers to transition to ISO 9001:2026.

Approachable’s Transition Plans

We have applied to UKAS for accreditation to ISO 9001:2026. Our application will be subject to UKAS assessment and approval, in line iwth the published transition arrangements. 

Once UKAS has approved our transition to the revised standard, we will be able to begin conducting accredited transition audits against ISO 9001:2026 and discuss the arrangements with our clients in more detail. We will keep clients updated with our progress and provide further guidance on the next steps and relevant timescales.

We recommend that organisations begin familiarising themselves with the key changes and reviewing their existing Quality Management System arrangements. Early preparation will help organisations identify any areas requiring attention and plan their transition in a controlled and proportionate way.

We are running ISO 9001:2026 Transition Courses to help customers with the changes involved in the transition. Please visit our ISO 9001:2026 Transition Training Course – Approachable Certification for more information.

We will continue to update this page as further information becomes available.