ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 Revision Update

 
 

As organisations, industries and operation environments evolve, so too must the standards that are designed to support effective management, resilience and continual improvement. This ensures that they remain relevant, credible, and aligned with today’s business and risk environment. 

As such ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management) standards are all currently undergoing a formal revision. These revisions are a part of ISO’s established lifecycle for management system standards. 

So, what’s changing? It is important to note that the upcoming changes are designed to refine and clarify the existing requirements and not replace the fundamental structure. In this article, let’s explore the expected timeline for each standard revision, a brief overview of expected changes and what this means for our clients who are already certified. 

ISO 9001:2015 Revision 

 
 
 
 

The revisions are expected to offer organisations already certified in the standard an opportunity to evolve their quality management systems to align better with evolving stakeholder expectations and business environments. While the core framework and process-based approach of the standard is expected to remain unchanged, notable changes in the proposed draft of ISO 9001 include: 

  • Greater emphasis on quality culture and ethical behaviour 

  • Strengthened requirements around risk and opportunity 

  • Integrated approach to change management 

  • Integration of climate change amendments 

  • Revised and expanded Annex A 

ISO 14001:2015 Revision 

 
 
 
 

The revised ISO 14001:2026 standard was published on the 15th of April 2026. According to ISO, the 2026 edition has introduced editorial improvements to the standard but the core structure and intent of the standard have been kept the same. Key changes we have noticed in our initial review include:

  • Improved focus on environmental sustainability 

  • Clarification on how environmental management should align with organisation's strategic direction and business decisions 

  • Improved emphasis on lifecycle thinking 

  • Refined wording and terminology in the standard, improving consistency across management standards and increasing usability 

ISO 45001:2018 Revision 

 
 
 
 

The ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management standard is still in the Committee Draft Phase with Technical Committee 283. 

What Do These Revisions Mean for Organisations That Are Already Certified? 

Organisations that are already certified in each of these standards will have a transition period of three years from the date of publication of the new standard to transition. 

When the final copy of each standard gets published, Certex will contact our clients accordingly to advise what steps are needed to migrate to the new standard and what the deadlines are. 

What’s Next? 

This information is correct as at 16 April 2026. For updates, subscribe to our newsletter or check back on our website later in the year. 

Alicja Gibert