If your organisation is certified to ISO 9001, you may have heard some early chatter about a new version of the standard.
ISO has released a Draft International Standard (ISO/DIS 9001:2026), which is intended to replace ISO 9001:2015 in the future. As with all ISO updates, the immediate question tends to be:
“Do we need to do anything now?”
The short answer is no — but the draft does give a helpful indication of where ISO is heading.
Important context: this is only a draft
ISO/DIS 9001:2026 is not the final standard. It:
- cannot be audited against
- may still change before publication
- does not trigger certification changes
Nothing becomes mandatory until:
- the final ISO 9001:2026 is published, and
- certification bodies release formal transition requirements
That process typically includes a transition period, not an immediate switch.
For now, this is about awareness and forward planning, not implementation.
For now, this is about awareness and forward planning, not implementation.
What hasn’t changed
The fundamentals of ISO 9001 remain exactly where you’d expect them. The draft keeps:
- the same Clause 4–10 structure
- the process approach and PDCA cycle
- risk-based thinking
- leadership accountability and continual improvement
There are no new mandatory procedures, no documentation blow-out, and no shift away from practical, scalable quality systems.
If your ISO 9001:2015 system is working well, nothing in the draft suggests a major redesign will be required.
The specific changes in the ISO 9001 update (in practical terms)
While this isn’t a major rewrite, there are some clear areas where ISO has sharpened its wording or intent.
Climate change is now explicitly referenced
For the first time an ISO 9001, the draft asks organisations to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue when considering their organisational context.
This does not turn ISO 9001 into an environmental or sustainability standard. It simply makes something explicit that was previously implied.
In practice, this means being able to explain — briefly and sensibly — whether climate-related factors affect your organisation and why.
For many businesses, this will be a straightforward determination.
Interested parties may have climate-related expectations
The draft also notes that interested parties may have requirements related to climate change.
This doesn’t automatically create new obligations. It reinforces an existing principle: if customers, regulators, or other stakeholders have expectations that affect your ability to deliver conforming products or services, your quality management system should be aware of them.
If no such expectations exist, that position can simply be explained.
Leadership expectations are clearer around culture and ethics
The leadership clause now refers more directly to:
- quality culture, and
- ethical behaviour
This isn’t a new compliance requirement and doesn’t mean new policies are needed. It reflects ISO being clearer about what leadership commitment looks like in practice — not just documented intent, but everyday behaviour and decision-making.
Most auditors already look at this informally. The draft simply tightens the language.
Risk and opportunity thinking is refined
Risk-based thinking hasn’t changed in substance, but the draft:
- separates risks and opportunities more clearly
- sharpens expectations around analysis and evaluation
- references disruption and continuity as examples
There is still no requirement for complex risk tools or formal registers. The intent remains proportionate and practical.
Organisational knowledge and managing change are clarified
The clauses covering organisational knowledge and planned change have been lightly refined to reinforce the need to:
- understand what knowledge is critical
- retain it
- update it as conditions change
These concepts already existed in ISO 9001:2015. The draft simply makes expectations clearer, particularly for organisations reliant on key individuals or undocumented know-how.
What this does not mean
At this stage, the draft does not mean you need to:
- update your quality management system
- rewrite procedures or policies
- introduce new registers or frameworks
- prepare for audits against ISO/DIS 9001:2026
Doing so now would be premature.
What KBM recommends right now
The most sensible approach at this point is to stay informed and start planning, not start changing.
Be aware that ISO 9001 is evolving. Make sure leadership understands that an update is coming in the future. If you’re already reviewing organisational context, risks, or management review inputs, it’s reasonable to keep these themes in mind — but there’s no need to force alignment yet.
Once the final ISO 9001:2026 is published, there will be clear guidance on what needs to change and by when.
The takeaway
ISO/DIS 9001:2026 is not a dramatic shift. It’s a measured refinement of an already familiar standard.
For now, awareness beats action.
At KBM Advisory, we’re monitoring how the draft develops and what the final standard is likely to mean for Australian organisations. When it’s time to act, we’ll help ensure any changes are practical, proportionate, and aligned with how your business actually operates.ges are sensible, proportionate, and aligned with how your business actually operates.
