The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced a plan to ensure a smooth transition to the upcoming revision of the ISO 9001 standard or ISO 9001:2008. ISO 9001:2008 is scheduled for release in October 31, 2008 and will replace the current version of the standard which is widely used accross the word as the norm for Quality Management Systems (QMS).

ISO and the IAF (Internaltional Accreditation Forum) have recognized that ISO 9001:2008 does not introduce any new requirements, only clarifications to the existing requirements bsed on the feedback and experience received after using the 2000 version of the standard for 8 years.

A summary of their agreed implementation plan is as follows:

1. No company will be certified to ISO 9001:2008 until the standard ISO 9001:2008 is published officially.
2. Certification won’t be automatic but through a normal surveillance audit, recertification audit or initial audit.
3. After 12 months of the ISO 9001:2008 publication, all certificates will be to ISO 9001:2008.
4. After 24 months of the ISO 9001:2008 publication, all certificates issued to ISO 9001:2000 will not be valid.

For the article released by ISO and IAF please click below.
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