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. 

UK Future Homes Standards Prompt New BSI Certification Scheme

The UK government has published the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, introducing new requirements for how the energy performance of windows and doors will be assessed in new buildings from March 2027.

ISO 19011 Auditing Standard Enters Final Stage With Hybrid And Digital Shift

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has advanced the revision of ISO 19011 to the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) stage. 

IMDRF Playbook Guides Global Use Of Shared Medical Device Regulatory Reviews

The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) has published a playbook to help regulators use shared approaches when reviewing medical devices, known as regulatory reliance.

DIN Introduces First Framework For AI Testing Tools

The German Institute for Standardization (DIN) has published DIN SPEC 92006, introducing the first unified framework for artificial intelligence (AI) testing tools and setting clear requirements for how these tools should be designed and used.

FSSC 22000 Version 7 Release Moved To May 2026

The Foundation for Food Safety Certification (FSSC) has delayed the launch of FSSC 22000 Version 7, with publication now expected in early May 2026.

FSC Launches Normative Newsfeed For Clearer Requirements Updates

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has introduced a new Normative Newsfeed to make updates to its requirements easier to track and understand.

OECD Report Links Standards To More Effective Regulation

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a report examining how governments can improve regulation by making better use of standards, measurement, and assurance systems, known as quality infrastructure (QI).

ISO 9000 Revision Reaches Final Draft Stage, Publication Expected In May 2026

The revision of ISO 9000, the international standard that defines the basic concepts and vocabulary of quality management, has reached the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) stage, the final step before publication.

ISO and IEC Form JTC 5 Committee on Digital Product Passport Standards

A new international standards committee has been created to develop standards for digital product passports (DPPs), systems designed to share key product information across the entire lifecycle and improve transparency and circular economy practices.

Third Edition of ISO 22301 Business Continuity Standard Enters Development

The next revision of ISO 22301, the international standard for business continuity management systems (BCMS), has moved into development.

Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated Launches Website

Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated has launched its new official website, providing a central online platform for the organization that became the single global body for international accreditation cooperation.

Cradle to Cradle Certified Version 5 Released With Stronger Focus On Measurable Product Requirements

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) has released Version 5 of the Cradle to Cradle Certified standard,

IEC 63372 Establishes Method For Measuring Carbon Footprint And Avoided Emissions In Electronics

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has published IEC 63372,