New Edition, 2026 Checked October 24, 2026
Revised in 2026, with a reworked independence model. Accreditation bodies will set the transition timetable.
Next: Expect your accreditation body to publish a transition timetable; plan a gap assessment against the new independence requirements.
What It Covers
Requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistency of bodies that inspect products, processes, services or installations.
Who It Applies To
Inspection bodies seeking accreditation, where the activity is inspection rather than test or calibration.
Key Requirements
- Independence and impartiality, with the type of inspection body defined.
- Competent inspectors, authorized and monitored.
- Inspection methods, records, and reports controlled.
- Complaints, appeals, and management system requirements.
What an Auditor Asks to See
- How the body’s independence is demonstrated for its type.
Where Systems Fall Short
- Inspection carried out under a laboratory accreditation that does not cover it.
How QES Helps
Gap assessments against the 2026 edition and its independence model.
Related Standards
Sources. NATA — Preparing for ISO/IEC 17020:2026 (opens in a new tab). Status checked October 24, 2026. This page summarizes ISO/IEC 17020:2026; it does not reproduce or replace it. Buy the standard from its publisher, or read the regulation in its official text, before relying on a detail. Not legal advice.