Updated accreditation enables DQS Inc. to certify organizations to the revised environmental management systems standard

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DQS Inc. today announced it is one of the first certification bodies accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to certify organizations against ISO 14001:2026. DQS Inc. is the North American arm of the DQS Group, a global specialist in the assessment and certification of management systems operating in more than 80 countries.

This latest accreditation positions DQS Inc. to support organizations across North America as they adopt the latest edition of the internationally recognized environmental management systems standard. The company offers the technical competence, qualified personnel and established processes required to audit organizations against the revised standard.

"This revision reflects the preparation that has taken place across DQS Inc. to understand the revised requirements of ISO 14001:2026 and translate them into a consistent, rigorous audit process," said Dina Tarantino, Director of Accreditations and Regional Compliance Officer at DQS. "This accreditation means the DQS Inc. team is ready to support that transition."

Published on April 15, 2026, ISO 14001:2026 is the first full revision of the standard in more than a decade. The new edition retains the established environmental management framework while introducing clearer guidance and stronger alignment with current environmental priorities, including climate change, biodiversity and resource efficiency. It also places greater emphasis on leadership, governance and the integration of environmental considerations across operations and value chains.

More than 670,000 organizations worldwide hold ISO 14001:2015 certification. Those organizations will need to adopt the revised edition within the applicable period of time, working with certification bodies that have demonstrated their ability to audit against the new requirements.

Candace Orbaugh, Director of EHS & Energy Programs at DQS Inc., will be a key resource for North American customers, providing clear information on the revised requirements during the transition.

"ISO 14001:2026 builds on systems that many organizations have developed over several years," said Orbaugh. "The revision provides an opportunity to examine whether those systems continue to reflect changing environmental conditions, operational priorities and stakeholder expectations. Starting that review early will give organizations time to identify gaps and involve the appropriate teams while incorporating the new requirements into their existing processes."

Organizations should begin by assessing how the changes apply to their current systems. Areas for consideration include organizational context, environmental conditions, risks and opportunities, change management, value chain controls and internal audit planning.

To help organizations across North America, DQS Inc. hosted a webinar on August 13 to explain the ISO 14001:2026 revisions and outline practical considerations for transition planning. Organizations can watch the recording and access further resources here.

About DQS

DQS Inc. is the North American arm of the DQS Group, a global specialist in the assessment and certification of management systems. Founded in 1985, DQS operates in more than 80 countries, with 3,000 highly qualified auditors conducting more than 130,000 audit days annually across 200+ internationally recognized standards. DQS Inc. helps organizations manage risk, demonstrate compliance and strengthen performance through auditing and certification services spanning quality, information security, sustainability, artificial intelligence, healthcare and manufacturing. For more information, visit https://www.dqsglobal.com/en/.

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SOURCE DQS