ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: An Overview of the Latest Version

What are the latest versions of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards?

As of April 2026, the current versions are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2026 , both of which have been amended by or incorporate the 2024 A1 amendment on climate change.  The new full versions — ISO 9001:2026 and ISO 14001:2026 — will be published in September 2026 and April 2026 . AFNOR, the national standards body that organized the revision on behalf of French stakeholders and serves as the French member of ISO, is responsible for the official publication of the French versions NF EN ISO 9001:2026 and NF EN ISO 14001:2026 as soon as they are published. Check back here on those dates to get the link to view them!

The various versions of the ISO 9001 quality standard

The various versions of ISO 14001 on the environment

What are the changes in the 2026 version of the ISO 9001 standard?

The new version of ISO 9001, which establishes a quality management system, is scheduled for release between July and October 2026. The goal of this new version is to enhance organizational performance by incorporating the latest trends and best practices. The four major trends and new features of the 2026 version of ISO 9001 are:

1. It is essential to take into account the impacts of climate change and the expectations of stakeholders . With the incorporation of the requirements of the A1 climate amendment of February 2024 into the revised version of the standard, organizations must determine how climate change affects their operations. This issue was already receiving particular attention in certification audits. In addition, organizations should strengthen their efforts to identify the needs and expectations of interested parties and review this issue during the management review.
2. The ability to ensure business continuity in the event that a risk materializes and to capitalize on opportunities must be guaranteed . With regard to risks, organizations should plan how they intend to ensure business continuity should any of the identified risks materialize. The compliance of products and services must not be compromised, nor should customer satisfaction. The process of identifying opportunities must be thoroughly explored to enable the organization to determine how they can help ensure the quality and compliance of products and services and improve customer satisfaction. An action plan must be established.
3. Organizations must now promote the concepts of a culture of quality and ethical conduct among their employees . Management must ensure that its employees are aware of the quality culture and the concept of ethical conduct.
4. The integration of emerging technologies within the organization must be carefully managed and documented . These are not additional requirements but rather an addition to the appendix of the revised standard. Organizations are encouraged to assess the risks and opportunities associated with the integration of new technology. Indeed, while technology can have beneficial effects on the QMS, it can also lead to the replacement of certain personnel. Organizations are encouraged to clearly document the decisions made and the associated responsibilities, with a requirement for accountability.
    

Other requirements have been definitively established or strengthened:

• The requirements of the Climate Amendment A1/2024 are now integrated .
• The need for align quality policy with strategy the organization is supported.
• The relevance of  distinguish between risks and opportunities is emphasized.
• The importance of a good  change management within an organization is more pronounced.

What are the changes in the 2026 version of ISO 14001?

The new version of the ISO 14001 standard was published in April 2026, under the designation NF EN ISO 14001:2026. The revision of ISO 14001 does not introduce new requirements but rather aims to improve consistency and clarity, while closely aligning with the harmonized structure of management standards. Nevertheless, five major trends can be identified:

1. Greater consideration of emerging issues and planetary boundaries (climate change, biodiversity, water, soil, greenhouse gases, etc.) These emerging issues are addressed in the standard’s purpose, the definition of its scope, the identification of significant environmental aspects (SEAs), and the operational management of the entire value chain. The concept of managing externalities has been redefined in Section 8.1.
2. Taking environmental considerations into account at every stage of the life cycle . A note has been added to the text of the requirements, and explanatory notes have been added to Appendix §A6.1.2.
3. The rollout of the SME across the entire  value chain . This concept, which is introduced in section 8.1 and is linked to “managing externalities,” means that the company is encouraged to extend its commitments to sound environmental practices to its service providers and suppliers.
4. Clarification of the risk/opportunity approach and change management (complete reorganization of Chapter 6) . A chapter dedicated to risks and opportunities has been added. The 2026 version of the ISO 14001 standard also includes a new chapter designed to strengthen the planning and effective implementation of change. Organizations must improve their change management: better anticipating, responding to, and steering organizational and technical changes.
5. Expanding Leadership in Environmental Culture and Performance . Management must foster a culture that encourages its employees and those working on its behalf to contribute to the achievement of the EMS objectives.

Appendix A has been significantly expanded to better explain and guide understanding of the requirements:

• Clarification on the concept of life cycle perspective related to SEMs (Significant Environmental Aspects);
• Details on the suitability of external service providers or suppliers , in light of the principle of control and influence;
• Incorporation of  emerging themes (biodiversity, water, soil, greenhouse gases…)
• Reminder of the  links between "external communication" and "compliance obligations"
• Restructuring of Chapter 6 on risks and opportunities
• Add a  subsection on "change management"
• More detailed management review  by creating subchapters and incorporating the needs and expectations of relevant stakeholders as input to achieve the desired outcomes
• Distinction between operational and strategic results
• Distinguishing between abnormal situations and potential emergencies.

How can I obtain the 2026 versions of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards? 

The 2026 editions of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are available for purchase on the AFNOR Editions website , in their French versions NF EN ISO 9001 and NF EN ISO 14001. The revised version of ISO 14001 is scheduled for publication in April 2026 ( link here ). ISO 9001 is expected to be released between July and October 2026. Check back here in this FAQ around those dates for the link to view the standard! Previous versions will be withdrawn, but can still serve as a reference for implementing a management system that you wish to have certified quickly.

How do the ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001 certification transitions work?

Whether it's for ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 certification, You will be required to conduct a transition audit within three years of the publication date of the new version of the standard. You can conduct your surveillance and recertification audits using the 2015 version until the end of 2028 , so you have time to prepare for the transition audit under Version 2026. In 2029, your follow-up or renewal audit must be conducted in accordance with the 2026 version.

When you are ready to transition your certification to the 2026 version of ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001, contact your usual point of contact at your certification body to schedule your  transition audit . This transition audit can be conducted during an upcoming Stage 1 or Stage 2 surveillance audit, or during a recertification audit. For more information, please see our FAQ on certification transition procedures ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 .

How can you get trained on the new versions of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards?

A new standard means it’s time to update your knowledge. As a leader in continuing education for standards-based management systems, AFNOR Compétences offers sessions dedicated to the 2026 versions of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: 

• ISO 9001 version 2026 (half a day)
• ISO 14001 version 2026 (three days)

If you’d like to tackle the migration of your quality and environmental management systems with the help of an expert who can work directly with your team, check out our matching platform  AFNOR BAO !

How are other standards based on ISO 9001 affected?

Each ISO standard is managed by a standards committee and follows the update procedures specified by ISO, based on the schedule specific to each standard. A systematic review is conducted for each standard at least every five years to determine whether the standard should be retained, modified, or withdrawn. Certain sector-specific standards (such as IATF 16949 on quality in the automobile or EN 9100 in aviation (for example) are issued by professional associations, which themselves determine the procedures for updating their standards.

What other standards are currently being revised?

Other management system standards are currently undergoing changes, such as ISO 22000 (food safety management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management) and ISO 19443 (quality in the nuclear industry). These last two standards are scheduled for publication in 2027. At the same time, ISO is developing a new management standard tailored to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which will also be certifiable: 
ISO 53001 .

How can you keep up with changes in standards?

The ISO website indicates the current stage of each standard on its dedicated page. If a new version is being developed, a link is provided to the project page. At the national level, it is the Norm’info platform , managed by AFNOR but taking into account the work of sectoral standardization bodies, which makes it possible to track changes in standards.

What documents related to ISO 9001 and 14001 (2026 edition) can I download?

Here is a selection of useful resources and links: