Sweden Improving Inclusion With Two Free Accessibility Standards

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) is making both the European standard Design for All (SS-EN 17161 Universal Design) and the global standard for cognitive design, ISO 21801, accessible to everyone free of charge.

NATO Membership Triggers Sweden's Defense Accreditation and Standards Updates

Sweden has updated its certification and accreditation requirements in the defense sector following its full NATO membership in March 2024.

Simplified Sustainability Reporting Now Available for Sweden’s Small Enterprises

Sweden has introduced a new self-declaration to make sustainability reporting easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Sweden Launches TS 560 Certification Based on ISO 56001 to Strengthen Innovation Management

Swedac has approved TS 560, a new national certification scheme that enables Swedish organizations to demonstrate structured innovation management practices.

SamCert Becomes First in Europe to Earn AI Certification Under ISO 42001

SamCert, a consulting firm based in Strömstad, has become the first company in Europe to be certified under ISO 42001, the new international standard for artificial intelligence management systems.

Sweden Steps Up Support for Ukraine’s Quality Infrastructure and EU Goals

Sweden is deepening its cooperation with Ukraine to help build the country’s quality infrastructure and support its EU accession process.

Sweden Introduces Certification for Inclusive Design with New Standard

A new Swedish standard, SS-EN 17161, now enables organizations to certify their management systems for inclusive design, ensuring that products, services, and environments are accessible to a broader range of users.

Sweden Makes Natural Value Inventory Standards Freely Available

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) has purchased free access to standards developed by the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) for natural value inventories, aiming to improve quality and enhance biodiversity protection.

Swedish and Icelandic Accreditation Bodies Extend Collaboration for 2025

Since 2022, Swedac and Iceland's national accreditation body, ISAC, have collaborated to support ISAC's accreditation efforts.

How Sweden Leverages Standards to Advance Sustainable Construction

Sweden is strengthening its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector by half within five years, with standardization playing a key role.

RISE Becomes First in Sweden to Certify Universal Design Compliance

Swedish organizations can now obtain certification for accessibility efforts, as RISE has become the first entity accredited by SWEDAC to certify compliance with the universal design standard SS-EN 17161.

Sweden Developing First Business Preparedness Standard as Part of Crisis Resilience Efforts

Sweden is leveraging standardization to enhance national resilience in the face of extreme crises and war.

GFSI Opens Applications and Extends Deadline for BMRs v2024

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has opened applications for the Benchmarking Requirements Version 2024 (BMRs v2024), the criteria used to evaluate and recognise food safety certification programmes worldwide.

PEFC Opens Consultation On Revised Project Sourcing Standard

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has opened a public consultation on its revised PEFC Project Sourcing standard, which is available for feedback until December 23, 2025.

Circular Design Process Aims to Transform the Global Textile and Fashion Industry

The global textile and fashion industry is under increasing pressure to reduce waste, improve material use, and meet new expectations from regulators and consumers.

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.

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.

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.

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.