Mondi Becomes First in Africa to Earn Cradle to Cradle Certification

Mondi Merebank, based in South Africa, has become the first company on the continent to earn a Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certificate.

Bank of Namibia Upgrades National Payment System to ISO 20022

The Bank of Namibia has successfully transitioned its Namibia Interbank Settlement System (NISS) to the ISO 20022 global payment messaging standard, effective May 12, 2025.

East African Community Proposes New Standard for Food Labeling

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has released a draft general standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods under the East African Community (EAC) framework.

Tanzania Aligns New Pepper Standard With Codex Food Safety Limits

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has issued a new national standard for black and white pepper, covering both whole and ground forms. The standard, announced on April 8, sets clear safety, quality, and labeling rules in line with international benchmarks.

South African Forest Certification Expands Regionally and Enters PEFC Assessment

The South African Forestry Assurance Scheme (SAFAS) has expanded its national forest certification system into a regional framework for Southern Africa and submitted it for endorsement by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Morocco Launches Online Service for Certificates of Conformity, Streamlining Foreign Trade

Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with PortNet, has introduced a new online service for managing Certificates of Conformity (CoCs).

Open Call for ICT Standardization Experts in Five Countries Under GIST Project

An open call has been launched to recruit experts in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) standardization for the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardization Project (GIST).

Mauritius Breaks Ground with First Geographical Indications in Agriculture

Mauritius has established its first-ever Geographical Indications (GIs), marking a major milestone in the nation's agricultural sector.

Nigeria Calls for Dual-Marking Standards at ARSO Meeting in Casablanca

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) underlined the need for dual-marking standards at the 14th ARSO Champions meeting in Casablanca, Morocco.

Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector Leverages ISO Certifications to Reverse Medical Tourism

Nigeria’s healthcare system is taking strides to retain local patients and curb outbound medical tourism by implementing ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ISO 15189 for medical laboratory competence.

IEC Hosts Training Series for 35 African National Committees

The IEC is hosting five training sessions for 35 African National Committees, with over 500 staff set to receive in-depth training on standardization this year.

ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Library Now Available in Spanish

The ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group has proudly announced the release of the complete APG Library in Spanish, making it accessible to over 500 million people across more than 20 countries.

ISO Launches ISO 14092 Climate Adaptation Planning Standard For Local Governments And Communities

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published ISO 14092:2026, a new International Standard that sets clear requirements and guidance for climate change adaptation planning by local governments and communities.

ISO 9002 Revision: Second Working Draft Completed

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has completed the second Working Draft of its ISO 9002 revision, marking further progress in updating the guidance to reflect changes in ISO 9001.

FSSC 22000 Version 7 Nears Release with Major Food Safety Updates

FSSC 22000, a global food safety certification scheme developed by the Foundation FSSC, is moving toward Version 7, a major update that will reshape how food businesses manage safety, align with new global requirements, and prepare for future industry demands.

ISO 45001 Second Committee Draft Version Highlights Safety Culture and Workplace Wellbeing

The revision of ISO 45001 has advanced with the publication of the second version of the first Committee Draft, maintaining the standard at the Committee Draft stage and reflecting feedback from the first international enquiry.

ISO 23662 on Vegetarian and Vegan Foods Enters Periodic Review

ISO 23662:2021, the international standard that defines criteria for vegetarian and vegan foods, has entered its periodic review phase, giving stakeholders the opportunity to decide whether it should remain unchanged or be revised.

PEFC Circular Materials Task Force Established, Experts and Stakeholders Invited to Apply

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has established its PEFC Circular Materials Task Force and is inviting nominations for membership by March 18, 2026.

ASTM Develops WK91420 Guide for Artificial Intelligence in HR

ASTM International is developing a new guide, WK91420, to set clearer standards for artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment and hiring, aimed at reducing bias and improving fairness.

ISO 9001 Revision Advances After Review of 1,700 DIS Comments

The revision of ISO 9001 has moved into a decisive stage, with international experts completing the review of comments on the Draft International Standard (DIS) and confirming that the new edition is on track for publication in September 2026.

ISO Launches ISO 14019 Series With New Standards Supporting Validation and Verification of Sustainability Information

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published the first three standards launching the ISO 14019 series,

ISO 18060 Sets Global Rules to Measure Tourism Environmental and Social Impact

ISO 18060, a newly published international standard from January 2026, sets out a global framework to help tourism organizations measure their environmental, social, human, and economic impacts in a consistent and comparable way.

IFS Introduces Local Check to Support Small-Scale Food Producers

International Featured Standards (IFS) has introduced IFS Local, a new annual standalone food safety check designed to help small-scale and artisanal food producers demonstrate

FSC Releases Revised Trademark Standard and Starts Rollout for Certificate Holders

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released a revised trademark standard and has started rolling out guidance and support materials to help organizations transition to the updated requirements.