First Unified Pacific Regional Standard Coming Soon

Standards Australia (SA) is helping Pacific nations move toward their first unified regional standard, with a draft now open for public comment on Quick Frozen Cassava.

Brazil Certifies First City in the World for Urban ESG Indicators

São José dos Camposs, located in the state of São Paulo, has become the first city in the world to earn an urban ESG certification, awarded by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) at its Platinum tier.

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.

Vietnam Seeks Comments On New Rules For National Quality Awards

Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) is asking ministries, provinces, and business groups to comment on a draft circular that will replace the current regulation governing how the Vietnam National Quality Awards are organized and assessed.

IRAM Brings Together Global Partners to Celebrate 90 Years of Standards Work

The Argentine Institute of Standardization and Certification (IRAM) marked its 90-year milestone by gathering more than 200 representatives from

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.

Standards Watch Issue 23 Highlights Safer Sustainable Plastic Packaging

The 23rd edition of the Standards Watch video series explains how plastic packaging can be made safer and more sustainable.

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

Mexico Recognizes MDSAP as Equivalent to National Medical Device GMP

Mexico has issued a new interpretation rule for the NOM-241-SSA1-2025 standard on good manufacturing practices (GMP) for medical devices, confirming that

Korea Forms National Council To Drive Automotive SDV Standards

Korea has formed a national council to advance software-defined vehicle (SDV) standards, a step meant to strengthen the country’s future position in the automotive sector.

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.

INEN and UASB Invite Public to Join International Quality Congresses

The Ecuadorian Standardization Service (INEN) and the Andean University Simón Bolívar (UASB) are inviting participants to the XVI International Quality Congress and the VII Integrated Quality Congress,

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.

New International Standard in Development for Microbial Cultures and Probiotics

Work has begun within ISO to create a global standard that defines how microorganisms used in food and feed, such as bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, should be characterized and quality assured.

BS 30480 Launched as the World’s First Standard on Suicide Awareness in the Workplace

The world’s first standard dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention in the workplace, BS 30480, has been released by the British Standards Institution (BSI).

IATF Updates GM Quick Reference Guide on How Auditors Review Scorecard Data.

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) has issued an updated GM Scorecard Quick Reference Guide and Screen Images package to align with the latest Rules for Achieving and Maintaining IATF Recognition (6th edition).

GLOBALG.A.P. Gets New IT Platform for Certification and Transparency

GLOBALG.A.P. now operates on a new IT platform developed by Agraya GmbH together with its technology partner osapiens.

Standards Pavilion Expands at COP30 with Broader Coalition on Climate Policy and Finance

The Standards Pavilion has opened at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where 21 international organizations are discussing how standards can support measurable climate action.