Staying Ahead in 2026: Latest Developments in Governance, Accreditation and ISO
Author: SD PPO Governance & Quality Management Team
Overview
Welcome to the first 2026 edition of Breaking News!
As we step into a new year, the Breaking News initiative continues to support you with the freshest and most relevant updates from the TIC sector. Throughout 2026, we will deliver up-to-date, practical, and globally relevant insights to help you navigate change with confidence in today’s rapidly evolving landscape of certification, accreditation, regulation, and governance.
This edition brings you new developments shaping our work in 2026, from emerging regulatory topics to the latest industry signals influencing certification activities worldwide.
We welcome your contributions. Please share your local news, industry developments, or success stories with us at governance-quality.ppo@dekra.com and help ensure that Breaking News remains closely connected to what truly matters across our global TIC community.
GOVERNANCE & COMPLIANCE
Global Accredita on Coopera on Incorporated Launched
As of 1 January 2026, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated has officially launched, marking a key governance milestone for the global accreditation system.
Until the official acronym and mark are released (expected April 2026), members are requested to use the organization’s full name in all communications.
Transion Mandatory Documents Updates
Following the IAF/ILAC Joint Annual Meetings in October 2025, several areas for revision were identified in the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Transition Mandatory Documents (MDs).
Both draft MDs have since been updated based on feedback from the MSC Working Group, including detailed subteam reviews and in-person discussions. The revised drafts are currently under review. Once feedback is consolidated, IAF will make further adjustments and circulate the documents.
Given the extensive consultation already completed, IAF proposed to waive wider Technical Committee circulation (IAF PR2) and moved directly to member commenting within Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated. The deadline for feedback was 6 January 2026. These updates are expected to play a key role in shaping the upcoming ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 transition process for certification bodies and accredited organizations.
GLOBAL STANDARDS
ISO 14001 FDIS Released
The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) of ISO 14001 has been issued and is now available for review and editorial comments.
As this is the FDIS stage, only editorial comments are permitted and must be submitted using the official ISO commenting template.
This milestone represents the final step before publication of the revised ISO 14001 standard and aligns with the planned timeline for the upcoming transition.
Training Update | ISO 14001:2026
With the FDIS of ISO 14001 now issued, the Governance and Quality Management team plans training on the upcoming revision of ISO 14001:2026 to be released in March 2026.
GLOBAL STANDARDS
ISO 45001 Revision
According to ISO Technical Committee updates, the revision of ISO 45001 has been formally approved and entered the planning phase, with a new version expected to be published in 2027.
This will be the first major update since the 2018 edition and reflects the need to address emerging workplace safety priorities.
The next ISO 45001 revision meeting is scheduled for 17-20 February 2026, focusing on the Annex in light of the changes introduced in the standard.