Questions and Answers
Updated Timeline for the ISO 9001 Revision
The revision of ISO 9001 has been postponed. Due to extensive discussions during the Committee Draft phase and the resignation of the Working Group Convenor, ISO has decided to introduce a Committee Draft 2 as well as to delay the timeline for the ISO 9001 revision. The new release date has shifted from December 2025 to September 2026, resulting in the ISO 9001:2026.
We consulted our expert, Thomas Waldner, Business Development Integrated Management System at Quality Austria and a member of the working group.
The revision of ISO 9001 has been in progress since December 2023; this much is known so far. What is the starting point for the new revision?
Thomas Waldner: The new ISO 9001 is based on both the 2015 version and the High-Level Structure. There were some differences in opinion regarding the foundation for the new revision. A transparent approach has now been chosen, clearly marking both the changes from the previous revision and the Harmonized Structure. Additionally, aspects from the 2020 ‘Customer Survey’ will be incorporated.
The ‘Customer Survey’ identified ‘emerging trends’—topics that may potentially be covered in the standard in the future. What content changes can we expect based on these emerging trends and previous discussions?
Thomas Waldner: We cannot discuss the details at this stage. Generally, as mentioned, the emerging trends from the Customer Survey conducted in 2020 have been identified. These focus areas were discussed among experts in the first meeting of the working group and prioritized for implementation. At a later date, it will be revealed how these topics will be incorporated. One topic, however, has already found direct entry into both the existing and future standards: climate change. The basis for this direct integration was the ‘London Declaration,’ which allowed this topic to be included without undergoing a ‘normal’ revision process and to be published accordingly. This affects not only ISO 9001 but also several other standards, including ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and ISO 45001.
What is the current status of the ISO 9001 revision? A new timeline has just been defined.
Thomas Waldner: Originally, only a Committee Draft was planned. However, due to extensive discussions and the inability to process content in a timely manner, there was a delay. Additionally, the Convenor of the working group resigned, which caused further delays. The current timeline states that Committee Draft 2 should be processed between January and June 2025, followed by the DIS - Draft International Standard (July 2025 to March 2026), which will then lead to the FDIS - Final Draft International Standard (April to June 2026). The release of ISO 9001:2026 will be processed from July to September 2026, with the actual publication date planned for September 2026.
Who are the participants in the Working Group?
Thomas Waldner: The participants are international experts from various fields (industry, small to medium-sized enterprises, consultants, certification bodies, representatives from specific sectors) and from all regions of the world (Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia & Oceania, Europe, Middle East).
Why is there a need for a new revision at all?
Thomas Waldner: During the aforementioned Customer Survey, it was also asked whether a new ISO 9001 revision should be undertaken. The result at that time was negative. However, subsequent surveys showed a slight majority in favor of a revision, which was then initiated by ISO. The Austrian mirror committee opposed a new revision, but we are proud to be part of the Working Group for the revision of ISO 9001.
Can one provide one’s input on the new revision?
Thomas Waldner: If you have qualified input regarding the new ISO 9001, you can forward this to the respective standardization body (in Austria, Austrian Standards International), which will then review the comments through the mirror committee and potentially incorporate them into the revision. This does not mean that the topics will be immediately integrated; they must, of course, be positively evaluated within the working group.
