The International Organisation for Standardisation  (ISO) reported that the new edition of the ISO/IEC 17020:2026 standard was published on 1 April 2026, which establishes the operational requirements for bodies performing inspection activities. This new edition replaces the version in force since 2012 and aims to adapt the standard to changes in the inspection sector, to the increasingly used new technologies, and to the evolving set of conformity assessment standards in the ISO/IEC 17000 series.

The standard’s revision has been developed by ISO and IEC under the ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment’s coordination. ENAC has participated in the ISO working group responsible for revising the standard.

ENAC has published the transition plan that regulates accredited bodies’ adaptation and those applying for a new accreditation to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020:2026. This plan, as required by the international accreditation organization, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (GLOBAL ACI), includes a transition period of three years from the publication of the ISO standard.

ENAC will organize an informative session aimed at inspection bodies to report on this transition plan, which will be announced shortly.

Main features of version 2026

• Clearly differentiating between independence and impartiality and simplification of the approach to independence, moving to distinguish only between Type A and Non-Type A inspection bodies.
• The terminology has been updated. The new standard aligns with ISO terminology, which has a series of common terms and definitions for all standards related to conformity assessment.
• Incorporating new definitions such as “item” and “client,” and clarifying concepts such as “similar items from the competition.”
• Introducing risk-based thinking, reducing prescriptive requirements and reinforcing performance-based requirements.
• Reorganizing technical and management requirements, especially regarding inspection personnel’s qualifications, the inspection process, and support processes.
• Strengthening data and information control, including a new clause that contemplates the use of technologies such as digital systems, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and remote inspection techniques.
• Expanding the concept of validation e.g., in non-harmonised procedures and software used in inspection processes.
• Reinforcing the nonconformity management system for nonconformities arising from inspections not properly carried out, including the analysis of the potential impact on the validity of the inspection results.