GENEVA-On November 14, 2008, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO 9001: 2008,Quality Management Systems – Requirements, the latest edition of the standard used worldwide as the framework for quality management systems (QMS).

ISO 9001: 2008 contains no new requirements compared to the 2000 edition, which it replaces. It provides clarifications to the existing requirements of ISO 9001: 2000 based on eight years’ experience of implementing the standard worldwide and introduces changes intended to improve consistency with the environmental management system standard, ISO 14001: 2004.

“The revised ISO 9001 results from a structured process giving weight to the needs of users and to the likely impacts and benefits of the revisions,” says ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden. “ISO 9001: 2008 is therefore the outcome of a rigorous examination confirming its fitness for use as the international benchmark for quality management.”

One year after publication of ISO 9001: 2008 all accredited certifications issued-new certifications or recertifications-shall be to ISO 9001: 2008.

Twenty-four months after publication of ISO 9001: 2008, any existing certification issued to ISO 9001: 2000 shall not be valid.

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