Updated: 28 September 2026

At a glance

• ISO 9001:2026 was published on 16 September 2026. The official Bulgarian translation, BDS EN ISO 9001:2026, has been in force since 24 September 2026 and can already be purchased from the Bulgarian Institute for Standardization (BDS).
• ISO 9001:2015 certificates remain valid until 30 September 2029. By that date, all certified organizations must transition to the new edition.
• From 31 March 2028, initial certifications will be carried out against ISO 9001:2026 only.
• The transition can take place at a scheduled surveillance audit, at recertification or at a separate transition audit.
• The changes are mostly clarifications. The main new points are that risks and opportunities are managed separately, quality culture and ethical behaviour are now explicit requirements, and the management of change has been expanded.

ISO 9001:2026 is now a reality. On 16 September 2026, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the sixth edition of the world’s most widely used standard for quality management systems. The new edition replaces ISO 9001:2015 and incorporates the 2024 amendment on climate change.

ISO 9001 remains the most widely applied of all management system standards. More than one million certificates have been issued worldwide, in almost every sector and for organizations of every size. This is why each new edition affects a very large number of certified organizations, suppliers and customers across the entire supply chain.

Official Bulgarian translation

The Bulgarian standard BDS EN ISO 9001:2026 has been in force since 24 September 2026. It is the official Bulgarian-language edition of EN ISO 9001:2026 and supersedes BDS EN ISO 9001:2015 and its amendment BDS EN ISO 9001:2015/A1:2024. The standard can be purchased from the Bulgarian Institute for Standardization.

Key changes in ISO 9001:2026

The structure of the standard is unchanged. Most requirements remain the same in substance, and the changes are mainly clarifications and editorial improvements. The most important are:

• Risks and opportunities are managed separately. Clause 6.1 is now split into two sub-clauses: 6.1.2, actions to address risks, and 6.1.3, actions to take advantage of opportunities. For each, the organization must determine, analyse and evaluate the relevant risks or opportunities, plan actions and evaluate the effectiveness of those actions. Disruptions to operations are explicitly given as an example of risk.
• Quality culture and ethical behaviour. Top management must promote a quality culture and ethical behaviour (5.1.1). People working under the organization’s control must be aware of them (7.3).
• Expanded management of change. When planning changes to the system (6.3), the organization must also plan how the changes will be communicated, how their effectiveness will be monitored and how the results will be reviewed.
• Interested parties. The organization must decide which of the requirements of interested parties it will address through the quality management system (4.2).
• Climate change is now part of the main text. The requirement from the 2024 amendment is incorporated into clauses 4.1 and 4.2.
• Clarifications in performance evaluation. Each internal audit must have defined objectives (9.2.2). The management review includes new inputs, among them changes in the requirements of interested parties (9.3.2).
• Terms and annexes. The key terms and definitions are now included in the standard itself (clause 3). Annex A has been completely revised: it explains the requirements without adding new ones. Annex B has been removed.

Transition period to ISO 9001:2026

The transition deadlines have been set by Global ACI, the international organization formed by the merger of IAF and ILAC:

Certified organizations can transition at a scheduled surveillance audit, at recertification or at a separate transition audit. Source: Global ACI.

How to prepare

• Purchase the standard and familiarize your quality team and internal auditors with the changes.
• Review your system against the new requirements. Give priority to the separate management of risks and opportunities, quality culture and ethical behaviour, the management of change, and the requirements of interested parties.
• Update the documents affected by the changes: registers, the change management procedure, the internal audit programme and the management review agenda.
• Provide training and carry out an internal audit against the new edition. Then agree with your certification body when the transition will take place.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to take action immediately?
It is not urgent. ISO 9001:2015 certificates remain valid until 30 September 2029. However, the changes take time to implement and to build up evidence, so it makes sense to start early. It is convenient to combine the transition with a scheduled surveillance audit or with recertification.

Will I need an additional audit?
Not necessarily. The transition can take place at a scheduled surveillance audit or at recertification. A separate transition audit is also possible if that suits you better.

Will the audit itself change?
Auditors will look for specific evidence of two things: that risks and opportunities are managed separately, and that quality culture and ethical behaviour are actually practised, not just described in documents.

When can I get certified directly to the new edition?
Accredited ISO 9001:2026 certificates will be issued once the accreditation body has confirmed the certification body’s transition. From 31 March 2028, initial certifications are carried out against the new edition only.

Where can I buy the standard?
The official Bulgarian translation, BDS EN ISO 9001:2026, is sold by the Bulgarian Institute for Standardization. The original English version is sold by ISO.

INCERT is closely following the accreditation process and will inform certified organizations of the specific steps in good time. For questions about the transition to ISO 9001:2026 or about certification, contact us or submit a certification application online.