As you may have heard, on the 15th April 2026 ISO published the latest version of ISO 14001:2026, the environmental management system. Here is how we plan to approach the transition to the new standard and what you need to do to prepare.
What this means for Organisations Certified to ISO 14001:2015
Although the changes are considered relatively minor, ISO 14001 certified clients should start planning their transition to the new standard.
ATC Certification must remain impartial and therefore we cannot offer consultancy. However, some common steps include:
- Buying a copy of the ISO 14001:2026 standard.
- Conducting a gap analysis between the 2015 and 2026 versions of the standard.
- Updating your documentation and practices accordingly.
- Conducting internal audits to the 2026 standard.
- Conducting a management review to the 2026 standard.
There will be a three-year transition period, ending April 2029. During that time, we will work with you to plan an appropriate time to transition to the new standard. Your current ISO 14001 certificate will remain valid until expiry or the transition deadline.
What this means for ATC Certification
ATC Certification must now build our ISO 14001:2026 certification scheme and ensure our auditors are trained, and competent, in the new standard.
This will take time and it’s important to get right, so we will release a more detailed timeline when available.
We are not currently certifying organisations to ISO 14001:2026.
Should you Delay Initial ISO 14001 certification?
It is not necessary to delay certifying to ISO 14001:2015 for the first time. ISO 14001:2015 certificates will remain valid for the three-year transition period, ending April 2029.
We will plan your transition to the ISO 14001:2026 version of the standard as part of a surveillance audit or special transition audit before the transition period ends.
Any questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about the new standard please contact our office, we are happy to help.
