15 Slovenian Schools and Kindergartens Earn Green Flag Label for Sustainability

Fifteen Slovenian schools and kindergartens have been awarded the international environmental symbol Green Flag for the first time.

New European Standard EN 16325 Expands Guarantees of Origin to All Energy Carriers

CEN and CENELEC have published EN 16325:2025 Guarantees of Origin related to energy, a new standard that increases transparency for consumers on where their energy comes from.

EA MLA Mark Launched to Strengthen International Recognition of Certificates

The European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) has introduced the EA MLA Mark as a new symbol of European recognition.

Polish PCA Gains IAF Recognition for Anti-Bribery Certification

The Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA) has expanded its role under the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Agreement (MLA) to include certification of anti-bribery management systems.

INAB Summer 2025 Newsletter Published

The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) has released its Summer 2025 newsletter,

Norway Invites Experts to Shape Future Blockchain Standards

Standard Norway is seeking experts to join its committee SN/K 593 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, with applications open until September 12, 2025.

NEN Explores Creation of Standards Committee for Pet Products

The Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut (NEN) is exploring the creation of a Dutch standards committee for pet products.

Free Standard Improves Data Sharing in Swedish Education

Sweden’s National Agency for Education (Skolverket) is making a national data exchange standard freely available to schools and training providers to boost digitalization and improve how educational information is shared.

UK Streamlines Rules for Importing Organic Food Products

The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has updated its guidance on importing organic food, feed, and seed.

Italy Opens Consultation on Sustainable Digital Communication Draft

The Italian National Standardization Body (UNI) has opened a public consultation on a new draft practice, Digital Sustainability of Communication and Advertising.

DAkkS Completes ISO 15189 Transition With All Medical Labs in Germany Retaining Accreditation

The Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS), Germany’s national accreditation body, has successfully completed the nationwide changeover to the revised DIN EN ISO 15189 standard for medical laboratories.

Italy’s OCSI Gains Accreditation to Issue EU Cybersecurity Certificates

The Information Security Certification Body (OCSI) of Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) has obtained accreditation from Accredia to issue European cybersecurity certificates under the new EUCC certification scheme.

Volvo and GM Update Customer-Specific Requirements for IATF 16949

Volvo Group and General Motors have updated their customer-specific requirements (CSRs) for IATF 16949, the automotive quality management system standard.

IRIS Certification News: Railway Quality Management Upgrades with Rev. 4 and Siemens Mobility’s Gold Award

The International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) underwent significant updates with the implementation of Revision 4 in April 2024, introducing key changes to improve quality management for railway sector companies.

Draft Revision of ISO 17020 for Inspection Bodies Open for Voting

The ISO International Organization for Standardization Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) has released a draft revision of ISO/IEC 17020, which sets competence requirements for inspection bodies.

Survey Launched to Improve ISO 59000 Circular Economy Standards

The ISO/TC 323 Technical Committee on Circular Economy has launched a survey, open from February 4 to April 4, 2025, to gather feedback on three foundational standards within its scope - ISO 59004, ISO 59010, and ISO 59020.

ETSI Creates Group to Define 6G Standards, Welcomes Expert Contributions

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has launched a new working group to define the requirements for the upcoming sixth-generation (6G) mobile network.

FSC Clarifies Misconceptions Amid Illegal Timber Trade Concerns, Notably From Russia

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) decided to address the current misconceptions regarding its certification system, particularly in relation to illegal timber trade and supply chain transparency.

Ford Updates Customer-Specific Requirements for IATF 16949 and PPAP, Strengthening Supplier Compliance

Ford has updated its Customer-Specific Requirements (CSRs) for IATF 16949 and the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), effective February 6, 2025.

SGS Earns NABCB Accreditation for Environmental Claim Verification

SGS has received accreditation from India’s National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), strengthening its ability to support clients with reliable environmental data.

IFS Introduces Tool to Enhance Supply Chain Risk Management

IFS has launched the IFS Supply Chain Processes Check, a tool to help suppliers identify and manage risks in their supply chains.

ISO 59040 Sets New Circular Economy Standard for Product Circularity Data Sheets

On February 3, 2025, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released ISO 59040:2025, titled Circular Economy — Product Circularity Data Sheet.

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.