ISO launches update to world's most widely used quality management standard for a new era of business

GENEVA, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced the launch of ISO 9001:2026, Quality management systems – Requirements, the new edition of the world's leading quality management system standard.

Trusted by more than one million organizations worldwide, the updated edition of ISO 9001 reflects how business itself is changing, helping organizations strengthen resilience and deliver long-term value, meet evolving customer expectations and serve increasingly interconnected global supply chains. 

For almost four decades, ISO 9001 has provided organizations of every size and sector with a globally trusted framework for improving performance, building customer confidence and driving continual improvement.

While maintaining the proven principles that have made it the international benchmark for quality management, the 2026 edition responds to an increasingly complex operating environment, where organizations must balance resilience with innovation and adapt quickly to changing markets and technologies.

ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica said ISO 9001, known as the gold standard in quality management, has helped organizations globally to build trust and deliver consistent value to customers.

"I am delighted to announce today's publication of the new edition of ISO 9001, a milestone that reflects both the enduring strength of this International Standard and its ability to evolve alongside the needs of organizations worldwide," Mr Mujica said.

"Today's business environment demands even greater agility, and this updated edition ensures the world's most widely used quality management standard continues to provide organizations with an internationally trusted framework to navigate change with confidence."

The new edition introduces targeted updates to improve clarity, usability and relevance while building on the familiar framework organizations already use. It places greater emphasis on leadership, a culture of quality and ethical behaviour, while providing greater clarity on the consideration of risks and opportunities to support better strategic decision-making.

The standard also adopts the latest Harmonized Structure for ISO management system standards, making it easier to integrate ISO 9001 with other management system standards.

Sam Somerville, Chair of ISO/TC 176 Subcommittee 2 and Convenor of the international working group that led the revision of ISO 9001, said the publication marks the culmination of years of international collaboration and demonstrates the strength of the standards development process.

"Bringing together experts across industries, sectors and countries enabled us to challenge ideas, build consensus and develop a standard that reflects the different realities organizations face today," Ms Somerville said.

"We hope organizations around the world will use ISO 9001:2026 to create lasting value for the people and communities they serve."

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI said "Millions of companies around the world look to ISO 9001 to ensure their operations and activities have quality at the core. We're proud that BSI has helped drive quality management from a British standard, almost 40 years ago, into the world's most widely used framework for quality we see today."

More information about the standard is available at https://www.iso.org/standard/9001.

SOURCE ISO