Vietnam Issues Circular On Voluntary Standards Declaration And Conformity Assessment

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) issued Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BKHCN on April 9, 2026, setting rules for conformity declaration and assessment. 

Pindamonhangaba Completes Second Maintenance Audit for Smart and Resilient City Certifications

Pindamonhangaba, a municipality in Brazil, has completed the second maintenance audit of its certifications issued by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), confirming continued certification for smart city indicators and urban resilience.

Medical Implants Lead BIS Standards Watch 32 Episode

Medical implant safety and performance are the central topic of the 32nd edition of Standards Watch by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS),

EU Court Upholds Copyright for Standards While Requiring Free Access to Check Compliance

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that access to standards cannot be restricted where they are needed to verify compliance with EU law, while confirming that harmonized European standards remain protected by copyright.

Results of EU Consultation on Standardization Regulation: Calls to Cut Delays and Simplify Processes

The results of the European Commission’s consultation on revising the European Standardization Regulation (EU) No. 1025/2012 confirm high trust in the system,

Japan Invites Bids to Strengthen Academia’s Role in Standardization

The Japanese Standards Association (JSA) has opened a call for contractors to carry out a 2026 project aimed at strengthening academia’s role in standardization.

Slovenia Opens Voucher Scheme Covering Up to 60 Percent of Certification Costs

The Slovenian Enterprise Fund (SPS) has opened a new call offering co-financing for companies seeking certification under the “V10 – Voucher for Obtaining Certifications” scheme,

Philippine Society for Quality Opens Nominations for Three Awards

The Philippine Society for Quality (PSQ), a national organization that promotes quality management practices and professional development,

Canada Introduces Level 1 Cybersecurity Certification for Defence Suppliers

The Government of Canada has introduced Level 1 of the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification (CPCSC),

China Targets AI, Data And Advanced Manufacturing in New National Standardization Pilot Program

The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) has opened applications for its 2026 national standardization pilot program,

CERTINALIA First in Spain Accredited for IEC 62443 Industrial Cybersecurity Certification

The Spanish National Accreditation Body (ENAC) has accredited CERTINALIA as the first entity in Spain to certify cybersecurity in industrial automation and control systems (IACS) under the UNE-EN IEC 62443 series.

Italy Starts Work on UNI Practice for Economic and Operational Performance Control

The Italian Organization for Standardization (UNI) is starting work on a new reference practice for management control systems, aiming to provide a structured way to monitor economic and operational performance. 

New JPEG Trust Standard Combats Deepfakes and Strengthens Media Credibility

A new standard called JPEG Trust has been introduced to help identify authentic photos and videos, aiming to combat the spread of deepfakes.

IAF Adds Validation and Verification to ICT Use in Conformity Assessments

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has released Issue 3 of its Mandatory Document 4 (MD 4), expanding the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in conformity assessments to now include validation and verification processes.

IFRS Foundation Releases Guide for Climate-Related Reporting Under ISSB Standards

The IFRS Foundation has released a guide to help companies report climate-related information in line with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards.

Guide on Coordinating Cybersecurity Incident Responses Now Available

A new framework, ISO/IEC 27035-4:2024, has been released to help organizations coordinate their response to cybersecurity incidents affecting multiple partners.

GLOBALG.A.P. Opens Public Consultation on New Social Responsibility Standard for Flowers

GLOBALG.A.P. has introduced a new Social Responsibility standard for flowers and ornamentals, focusing on improving social and labor conditions in high-risk countries.

ISO 14001 Draft Update Released and Open for Comments

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a draft update for ISO 14001, the global standard for environmental management systems.

GAEI, a New Tool to Measure Accreditation Capability Worldwide

The latest IAF Outlook newsletter introduces the Global Accreditation Experience Index (GAEI), a new tool measuring accreditation capability worldwide.

BSI Unveils Free Net-Zero Guide to Help SMEs Cut Emissions

BSI has launched a free standard to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop net-zero transition plans.

Update of IFS Split Audit Protocol puts sharper Risk Controls and Planning in Focus

IFS has released version 2 of its Split Audit Protocol, providing updated guidance for audits conducted both on-site and remotely.

IAF Releases January Outlook Newsletter: Updates on MLA Expansion, COP 29, and Leadership Strategies

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has published its latest Outlook newsletter, featuring significant updates in accreditation and conformity assessment.

GM Tightens Supplier Rules With Stricter Inspections and New Reporting

General Motors (GM) has revised its Customer Specific Requirements for IATF 16949, effective January 31, 2025.

No Deal! SGS and Bureau Veritas End Merger Negotiations

SGS and Bureau Veritas have ended merger talks without reaching an agreement, which could have created a €32 billion leader in testing and certification services.