EFSA Issues New Guidance to Help Companies Bring Microbial Food Products to EU Market

New guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) explains how applicants should prepare submissions for food products that contain, use, or are made with microorganisms under the EU’s food-safety approval system.

Proposed CEN Technical Committee on Entrepreneurship to Advance Startup Standards

The Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ) has submitted a proposal to create a new Technical Committee (TC) on Entrepreneurship within CEN.

Spain Issues First ISO 27701 Accreditation to Bureau Veritas Iberia

Bureau Veritas Iberia has become the first body in Spain to receive accreditation from the Spanish National Accreditation Body (ENAC) to certify privacy information management systems under UNE-ISO/IEC 27701:2021.

ENAC Passes OECD Good Laboratory Practice Assessment With No Deviations

The National Accreditation Body of Spain (ENAC) has passed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) assessment of its Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) oversight programs with no deviations.

Germany Releases First Safety Standard for Plug-In Solar Devices

The German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE) will publish the world’s first product standard for plug-in solar devices in December 2025, giving

You Can’t Replace Czech Quality: November Episode Highlights Trust in Quality Brands

The November episode of You Can’t Replace Czech Quality series explains why Czech quality remains a trusted sign of reliable products and services.

Danish Version of European Standard EN 45560 Brings Circularity Into Product Design

Denmark has published DS/EN 45560, its national version of the European circular product design standard, giving companies a practical way to integrate circularity into product development from the start. 

Dutch In Vitro Standards Committee Presents Broad Agenda for New Laboratory Standards

The Dutch In Vitro Diagnostics Standards Committee is driving a wide range of international work on new laboratory and diagnostic standards, reflecting the rapid rise of digital tools, artificial intelligence, and smarter testing systems.

Draft Standard EN 18274 Sets Skills Requirements for AI Ethics Professionals

A new European draft standard, prEN 18274, sets out the competence requirements for professional AI ethicists and is now open for public comment. 

CEN and CENELEC Celebrate Standards+Innovation Award Winners for 2025

CEN and CENELEC announced four winners of the Standards+Innovation Awards 2025 during a ceremony in Brussels, where the organizations highlighted how standards help turn research into practical impact.

EU: Public Consultation Opens on EN 18286, First Standard Supporting the AI Act

The first European standard designed to support the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act), EN 18286, has been released for public consultation.

France Makes Nutri-Score Labeling Mandatory, But Excludes Traditional Food Products

France’s National Assembly has approved a measure making Nutri-Score labeling mandatory on most food packaging, but excluding products with protected designations such as AOP, AOC, or IGP.

Global Payments Shift to ISO 20022 in a Move to Improve Data Quality

Banks worldwide have completed the shift to the ISO 20022 payments standard, following SWIFT’s cutoff of older message formats on November 22.

IFS Publishes New Guideline to Support Wholesale and Cash & Carry Audits

IFS has released a new guideline to help companies prepare for audits under the IFS Wholesale and Cash & Carry 3 Standard.

Shift to Green Coding Responds to Rising Energy and Environmental Pressure

Green coding, the practice of designing and writing software that uses less energy, is becoming an important part of modern software development.

IATF Releases New Updates to Rules 6th Edition and IATF 16949

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) has approved Stakeholder Communiqué SC-2025-003, announcing new Sanctioned Interpretations and Frequently Asked Questions for both the Rules 6th Edition and the automotive quality standard IATF 16949.

ISO 10993-1 Update Raises Biological Safety Expectations for Medical Devices

The new ISO 10993-1:2025 from ISO brings substantial changes to how manufacturers plan and justify the biological safety of medical devices.

Codex Commission’s 48th Session Confirms Updates Across Core Food Safety Standards

The Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted major changes to international food-safety rules during its 48th session in Rome from November 10 to 14.

ISO 13485 Application Guide, TS 23485, Under Way After Standard Confirmed as Current

A new guide on how to apply ISO 13485 is moving through development shortly after the standard was reconfirmed in its 2016 version (no revision will be done), despite remaining unaligned with the Annex SL structure.

A Different Approach: China Strengthens Oversight of Certification Bodies from 2026

China has issued new regulations that directly target accredited certification bodies that ignore international requirements, and the new rules will take effect on January 1, 2026.

ISO and IEC Develop Global Standard to Embed Ecodesign in Medical Devices

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are developing a new global standard to formally integrate ecodesign into the development of medical devices.

IFS Releases Updated Guideline for Effective Foreign Body Management

International Featured Standards (IFS) has issued an updated Guideline for an Effective Foreign Body Management,

Germany Heads Most ISO Secretariats But China Rapidly Gains Ground

Germany remains the world’s top country in international standardization, holding 17.1% of all ISO secretariats, according to the 2025 International Standardization Barometer published by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN).

Europe Now Conditionally Accepts FDA Inspections Conducted Abroad

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have entered a new stage of cooperation under their Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections.