With updated ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards released in 2026, organisations certified to the 2015 editions have three years to transition. Here's what Southpac Certifications clients need to know about the deadlines, audit requirements and next steps for transitioning their certification.
JASANZ, the accreditation body for Southpac Certifications, has now established requirements for Certification Bodies to manage the transition to ISO 9001:2026 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001:2026 (Environmental Management Systems).
Accordingly, Southpac Certifications has now released its transition guidance – outlining the key dates, additional audit time and options available to clients currently certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015.
For most organisations, the transition can be incorporated into an upcoming surveillance or recertification audit, avoiding the need for a separate audit.
Key transition deadlines
Organisations must complete their transition to the updated standards before the following deadlines.
| Standard |
Publication Date |
Final transition deadline |
| ISO 14001:2026 |
15 April 2026 |
30 April 2029 |
| ISO 9001:2026 |
16 September 2026 |
30 September 2029 |
After these deadlines, certifications to the 2015 editions will no longer be valid.
While there is plenty of time to prepare, we encourage clients to begin reviewing the updated requirements and planning their transition as part of their regular audit cycle.
How will the transition affect your next audit?
Southpac Certifications clients have several options for completing their transition.
For most organisations, the simplest approach will be to include the transition assessment as part of a scheduled surveillance or recertification audit.
Your auditor will assess the changes made to your management system against the updated requirements, in addition to the usual audit activities.
Additional audit time will be required, depending on the standards you hold and the type of audit being conducted. For most clients, this will range from an additional half day, to 1 day, on top of your regular audit duration.
This additional time allows your auditor to assess how your organisation has addressed the new requirements.
Your Southpac Certifications Coordinator can help you determine the most suitable transition option based on your current certification and audit schedule.
What does this mean for your organisation?
The best time to transition will depend on your existing certification cycle and how prepared your management system is for the updated requirements.
Here are two examples of how this could work.
Scenario 1: Certified to multiple ISO standards
Your organisation is currently certified to:
-
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems
-
ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems
-
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Your next surveillance audit is scheduled for March 2027.
In this case, you may choose to maintain your existing certifications during the March 2027 audit while preparing for the updated Quality and Environmental standards.
You could then plan to transition both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 at a later surveillance or recertification audit, once Southpac is authorised to issue certification to the new editions.
Your ISO 45001 certification is not affected by these particular transitions and will continue to be assessed against its existing requirements.
Scenario 2: Transitioning at Recertification
Your organisation holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, with a recertification audit scheduled for June 2028.
By reviewing the new requirements and updating your management system ahead of this audit, you can complete your ISO 9001:2026 transition alongside your scheduled recertification.
This would require an additional 0.25 day of audit time.
For many clients, this will be the most straightforward and cost-effective option.
How to prepare for the updated standards
While the transition deadlines are still some time away, organisations can begin preparing now.
Southpac Certifications will provide transition checklists to help you identify the changes relevant to your management system.
We recommend reviewing these checklists, identifying any gaps between your existing system and the updated requirements, and planning how these will be addressed before your transition audit.
Training can also be valuable, particularly for those responsible for maintaining, managing or auditing your Quality and Environmental Management Systems.
ISO 9001:2026 and ISO 14001:2026 Transition Training
Through our training partner, Auditor Training Co, Southpac Certifications clients can access online transition training to understand the changes introduced in the 2026 standards.
These courses are suitable for Quality and Environmental Managers, internal auditors, compliance professionals and anyone responsible for maintaining an ISO-certified management system.
There are two training pathways available, depending on your role and existing qualifications.
Whichever option you choose, each course takes less than an hour to complete, and incurs a small fee of $49.95 to cover enrolment costs. Southpac Certifications clients can use their $1,000 training credit towards this transition training.
Option 1: Accredited Transition Training
If you already hold an Exemplar Global qualification for Quality Management (QM) or Environmental Management (EM) against the 2015 edition, you can update your qualification through the relevant transition course.
These courses are designed for qualified internal auditors who need to update their knowledge and qualification to reflect the new standard.
Option 2: Knowledge-Based Transition Training
If you simply want to understand the changes and how they apply to your organisation, you can complete the knowledge-based transition course without obtaining an additional qualification.
This option is particularly useful for management system coordinators, internal teams and employees involved in maintaining compliance with the updated standards.
To access the knowledge-based course for each standard, use the link below to enrol, or contact your Certification Coordinator to use any unused training credit to cover the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to transition to the 2026 standards?
The final transition deadlines are:
- ISO 14001:2026: 30 April 2029
- ISO 9001:2026: 30 September 2029
Your transition assessment and any required corrective actions should be completed in sufficient time for certification to be updated before the relevant deadline.
Why is additional time being added to my audit?
The updated standards introduce requirements that your auditor will need to assess. Additional time is allocated to review the changes you have made to your management system, discuss how the new requirements have been addressed and confirm conformity with the 2026 edition.
My next audit is a surveillance audit. Can I transition then?
Yes. You can complete your transition during a surveillance audit, provided your organisation is ready for assessment. Many clients may prefer to transition during recertification, as this generally requires less additional audit time. Your Certification Coordinator can help you compare the options.
Will there be an additional cost to transition?
Yes. As additional audit time is required to assess the updated requirements, there will be an associated audit cost. The amount will depend on the standards you hold and whether you transition during surveillance, recertification or a separate audit. Your Southpac Certifications Coordinator can confirm the additional time and cost before your audit.
Will I receive updated certificates?
Yes. Once your organisation has successfully completed the transition assessment and the certification decision has been approved, Southpac Certifications will issue updated certificates referencing the relevant 2026 standard. Your existing certification cycle will remain unchanged when transitioning during a scheduled audit.
What if my management system isn't ready to transition at my next audit?
You do not need to transition at your next audit, provided it falls before the final transition deadline. Your scheduled audit can proceed against the 2015 edition while you continue preparing your system for the updated requirements, subject to the applicable certification arrangements.
However, you must complete the transition before the relevant deadline in 2029 to maintain valid certification. We recommend discussing your plans with your Coordinator early to avoid leaving the transition too late.
Do I need to rewrite my entire management system?
Not necessarily. If you already have an effective ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 management system, much of your existing documentation, processes and practices may remain suitable.
The priority is to understand the updated requirements, identify any gaps and make changes where needed. The Southpac transition checklists and Auditor Training Co courses can help guide this process.
Start planning your transition
Southpac Certifications is working with certified clients to make the transition to ISO 9001:2026 and ISO 14001:2026 as straightforward as possible.
Whether you're ready to transition at your next audit or want to begin preparing for a later date, our team can help you understand your options.
Contact your Southpac Certifications Coordinator to discuss your transition timeline, request the relevant checklists or arrange access to the online transition training.
.png?width=732&name=SC%20Feature%20Image%20Blog%20(1).png)
