Bank of Namibia Upgrades National Payment System to ISO 20022

The Bank of Namibia has successfully transitioned its Namibia Interbank Settlement System (NISS) to the ISO 20022 global payment messaging standard, effective May 12, 2025.

East African Community Proposes New Standard for Food Labeling

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has released a draft general standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods under the East African Community (EAC) framework.

Tanzania Aligns New Pepper Standard With Codex Food Safety Limits

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has issued a new national standard for black and white pepper, covering both whole and ground forms. The standard, announced on April 8, sets clear safety, quality, and labeling rules in line with international benchmarks.

South African Forest Certification Expands Regionally and Enters PEFC Assessment

The South African Forestry Assurance Scheme (SAFAS) has expanded its national forest certification system into a regional framework for Southern Africa and submitted it for endorsement by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Morocco Launches Online Service for Certificates of Conformity, Streamlining Foreign Trade

Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with PortNet, has introduced a new online service for managing Certificates of Conformity (CoCs).

Open Call for ICT Standardization Experts in Five Countries Under GIST Project

An open call has been launched to recruit experts in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) standardization for the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardization Project (GIST).

Mauritius Breaks Ground with First Geographical Indications in Agriculture

Mauritius has established its first-ever Geographical Indications (GIs), marking a major milestone in the nation's agricultural sector.

Nigeria Calls for Dual-Marking Standards at ARSO Meeting in Casablanca

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) underlined the need for dual-marking standards at the 14th ARSO Champions meeting in Casablanca, Morocco.

Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector Leverages ISO Certifications to Reverse Medical Tourism

Nigeria’s healthcare system is taking strides to retain local patients and curb outbound medical tourism by implementing ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ISO 15189 for medical laboratory competence.

IEC Hosts Training Series for 35 African National Committees

The IEC is hosting five training sessions for 35 African National Committees, with over 500 staff set to receive in-depth training on standardization this year.

ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Library Now Available in Spanish

The ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group has proudly announced the release of the complete APG Library in Spanish, making it accessible to over 500 million people across more than 20 countries.

AIAG Updates Guidelines for Supplier Management and Electronic Assembly

The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) has released updated editions of two Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) guidelines covering supplier management and electronic assembly manufacturing.

IEC 62366-3 for AI Medical Device Usability Reaches Committee Draft Stage

A proposed technical specification providing guidance on usability engineering for medical devices using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), IEC 62366-3, has reached the committee draft stage.

ISO/IEC 27017:2026 Updates Information Security Controls for Cloud Services

ISO and IEC have published ISO/IEC 27017:2026, an updated international standard providing guidance on information security controls for cloud services.

ISO Seeks Feedback on Draft ISO 56011 for Innovation Management Competencies

ISO/DIS 56011, a draft international standard outlining the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to manage innovation effectively, is now open for feedback.

ISO Publishes New Guide on Education About Standardization Around the World

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published Education about Standardization: Perspectives and Practices (PUB100508), a new guide exploring how standards are being integrated into education systems worldwide.

ISO/IEC 9837:2026 Establishes Common Concepts for Systems Resilience

ISO/IEC 9837:2026, a new international standard on systems resilience, provides a common basis for understanding how systems can withstand disruptions, adapt to adverse conditions, and recover from failures.

2026 Deming Prize Winners Announced

The Deming Prize Committee announced the 2026 winners on October 6, recognizing two individuals for their contributions to quality management and four organizations from Japan, India, and Indonesia.

Draft ISO/IEC 42007 Sets Framework for AI Conformity Assessment Schemes

ISO and IEC are developing ISO/IEC DIS 42007, a framework for conformity assessment schemes for artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

ISO Approves Development of Innovation Management Guidance for Startups and SMEs

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has approved a new project to develop innovation management guidance for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

BRCGS Consumer Products Issue 5 Set for Launch at Connect Americas

BRCGS will launch Consumer Products Issue 5 at BRCGS Connect Americas in Nashville on October 13, 2026, introducing a revised certification standard for consumer product manufacturers. Audits against the new edition will begin on June 1, 2027.

GRI Begins Developing Sustainability Reporting Standard for Food and Beverages

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has begun developing a new Sector Standard for food and beverage companies, covering sustainability impacts across their own operations and value chains.

GGN Label Updates Sustainability Claims as EU Rules Begin to Apply

Agraya has updated the sustainability claims used with its GGN label as new European Union rules on environmental marketing began to apply on September 27.