Cyprus Commitment Sets Common Direction for European Standardization

All 43 members of CEN and CENELEC have endorsed the Cyprus Commitment, setting a common direction for the future of European standardization and signaling unity during the ongoing revision of Regulation (EU) No. 1025/2012.

Belgium Adopts New VCA Contractor Safety Certification Scheme

The Belgian Accreditation Body (BELAC) announced that Belgium will adopt the VCA 2026/6.1, the updated contractor safety certification scheme, from July 1, 2026, with no transition period. 

Vietnam Develops Draft National Standard for Safe Vegetable Production

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) is developing a national standard (TCVN) for the production and primary processing of safe vegetables.

NEN Simplifies Safety Culture Ladder Questionnaire

The Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) has simplified the Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) used in the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL) certification process.

ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Transition Completed in Türkiye

Türkiye has completed the transition to TS EN ISO/IEC 17043:2023, with all 23 proficiency testing providers accredited to the previous edition of the standard successfully adopting the new requirements.

Connexia Wins Austria's 2026 State Award for Business Excellence

The Vorarlberg-based health care and social services organization connexia has won the 2026 State Award for Business Excellence, presented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) and Quality Austria.

Russian Standardization Week 2026 Set for October With New Award for Young Experts

The Russian Standardization Institute (RST) has announced that the Russian Standardization Week 2026 forum will take place in St. Petersburg from October 12–16.

Biotechnology Standards Fall Short of Industry Needs, ASCET Finds

The Advancing Standardization for Critical and Emerging Technologies Center of Excellence (ASCET) has released a new environmental scan identifying standards gaps and emerging priorities across the biotechnology sector.

RBA, SA8000 and SMETA Linked to Higher Scores in Taiwan Labor Agency Evaluations

Agencies that recruit migrant workers for employment in Taiwan can earn additional points in Ministry of Labor evaluations through certifications and social responsibility schemes such as RBA, SA8000 and SMETA.

Family Businesses Invited to Apply for Czech Quality Award

The Quality Council of the Czech Republic (RK ČR) has opened applications for the 2026 National Quality Award for Family Businesses, with submissions accepted until July 31, 2026.

Peru Adopts ISO 9000:2026 as National Standard

The National Institute of Quality (Inacal) has adopted ISO 9000:2026 as the Peruvian standard NTP-ISO 9000:2026, aligning the country with the latest international update in quality management and supporting organizations as they prepare for ISO 9001:2026.

Moldova’s Standards Body ISM Becomes CEN and CENELEC Member

The Institute for Standardization of Moldova (ISM) has been approved as a new member of CEN and CENELEC, with the membership set to take effect in January 2027. 

PEFC Circular Materials Task Force Established, Experts and Stakeholders Invited to Apply

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has established its PEFC Circular Materials Task Force and is inviting nominations for membership by March 18, 2026.

ASTM Develops WK91420 Guide for Artificial Intelligence in HR

ASTM International is developing a new guide, WK91420, to set clearer standards for artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment and hiring, aimed at reducing bias and improving fairness.

ISO 9001 Revision Advances After Review of 1,700 DIS Comments

The revision of ISO 9001 has moved into a decisive stage, with international experts completing the review of comments on the Draft International Standard (DIS) and confirming that the new edition is on track for publication in September 2026.

ISO Launches ISO 14019 Series With New Standards Supporting Validation and Verification of Sustainability Information

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published the first three standards launching the ISO 14019 series,

ISO 18060 Sets Global Rules to Measure Tourism Environmental and Social Impact

ISO 18060, a newly published international standard from January 2026, sets out a global framework to help tourism organizations measure their environmental, social, human, and economic impacts in a consistent and comparable way.

IFS Introduces Local Check to Support Small-Scale Food Producers

International Featured Standards (IFS) has introduced IFS Local, a new annual standalone food safety check designed to help small-scale and artisanal food producers demonstrate

FSC Releases Revised Trademark Standard and Starts Rollout for Certificate Holders

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released a revised trademark standard and has started rolling out guidance and support materials to help organizations transition to the updated requirements.

ISO 22095 Parts 2 And 3 Define Rules For Material Tracking Chain Of Custody Models

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published ISO 22095-2 and ISO 22095-3, two new international standards that

CSR Labels and ISO 26000 Linked to Improved Business Performance

A new international study by Responsibility Europe finds that organizations using recognized CSR (corporate social responsibility) labels outperform others economically and organizationally, confirming the growing importance of CSR frameworks and ISO 26000 worldwide.

Work Begins on Two Agrifood Data System Standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has started work on two new international standards for agrifood data systems through ISO/TC 347, focused on crop data definitions and data exchange in greenhouse production.

ISO 17024 Enters Final Publication Stage

The revision of ISO/IEC 17024, the international standard that sets requirements for bodies certifying persons, has entered its final publication stage, with release expected in March 2026.

MDSAP Updates Audit Approach Toward Risk-Based Assessments

The Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) has updated its audit approach, marking a notable shift in how medical device manufacturers are evaluated across participating regulatory jurisdictions.