Regulatory Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

From 1 January 2028, all Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) placed on the UK market must be certified by a UK-approved conformity assessment body against the classes and modules specified in UK Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, as listed below.

UK0, UK1, UK2, UK3, UK4, UK5 and accessories, UK6, and DRI add-on in relation to Module B.

UK0, UK1, UK2, UK3, UK4, UK5 and accessories, UK6, and DRI add-on in relation to the applicable module H.

The requirement to demonstrate that a product is certified by a UK-approved conformity assessment body also applies to products that already hold certificates issued by an EU-approved conformity assessment body.

UKAS Collaboration and Pilot Programme

As the national accreditation body, UKAS is collaborating with the Civil Aviation Authority to develop and pilot an approach for ISO/IEC 17065:2012 accredited product certification. This approach is designed to align the requirements of the proposed CAA Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) certification scheme and UK Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 with the requirements for accreditation.

Invitation for Expressions of Interest

UKAS is inviting expressions of interest from organisations that intend to act as certification bodies under the MSA certification scheme and wish to participate in the pilot programme. Organisations selected to participate will be assessed against the requirements set forth in ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and the MSA certification scheme, satisfactory assessment and completion of pilot activities will lead to an offer accreditation.

How to Apply

Organisations interested in participating or seeking further information about the pilot programme are requested to submit an expression of interest via email to developmentenquiries@ukas.com by no later than 25th September 2026.

Applicants are requested to provide the following initial details:

• Name of Organisation
• Name of key contact person
• Confirmation of whether the interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment, or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation and non-accredited but related certification activities
• Scope of certification activities for which accreditation is sought – refer to UK Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 Parts 1 to 5, 16, 17, and the relevant Annex – see also the available classes and modules formulating the scoping options within the 1st section of this document above,

Next Steps

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend a meeting of interested parties. During this meeting, the project will be discussed in relation to its various stages, and the terms of the project will be outlined together with a proposed timeline for key milestones.

Important Notice

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not constitute a commitment to participate in the project for interested parties. Similarly, acceptance of an expression of interest does not oblige UKAS to include the party in any future pilot project.

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UKAS welcomes the Pathology Transformation Review, chaired by Lord Carter of Coles, and its recognition of the central role of accreditation and quality assurance in supporting safe, effective and resilient pathology services across the UK.

The report rightly highlights that accreditation coverage remains strong across pathology laboratories, while assurance must continue to evolve with new service models, technologies and testing pathways beyond traditional laboratories.

We welcome the report’s focus on strengthening quality governance through better alignment between UKAS, CQC, NHS bodies, commissioners and other stakeholders. Accreditation demonstrates competence, consistency and confidence, but works best alongside robust governance, transparent data, effective leadership and continual improvement. Recommendations on accountability, harmonised quality management, escalation and meaningful metrics provide a valuable basis for discussion.

The report also highlights the importance of assuring quality across point-of-care testing, digital pathology, genomics and direct-to-patient services. As diagnostic pathways become more distributed, assurance frameworks must support confidence in service quality wherever testing is delivered.

UKAS supports the report’s emphasis on proportionate, risk-based assurance and objective quality data to drive improvement, strengthen visibility of performance, support consistent standards and enable innovation while maintaining patient safety.

UKAS welcomes the report’s broader analysis of pathology challenges, including rising demand, workforce constraints, variable digital maturity and operational consistency. Its focus on resilience, training capacity, advanced practice roles, sustainable service models, interoperable systems and high-quality data reflects priorities fundamental to high-quality diagnostics.

UKAS also notes the report’s view of pathology as an end-to-end diagnostic pathway rather than solely a laboratory service. Recommendations on access, patient pathways, community diagnostics and emerging technologies are highly relevant as healthcare evolves. Maintaining confidence will require innovation and investment, alongside consistent governance, robust validation and effective assurance across care settings.

As pathology services transform, UKAS stands ready to engage with CQC, NHS leaders, professional bodies, government departments and other stakeholders to support effective, proportionate and sustainable quality assurance. Together, we can help ensure innovation, integration and service redesign deliver benefits while maintaining the quality and patient safety the public expects.

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The United Kingdom Accreditation Service and the Office of the Forensic Science Regulator (OFSR) are establishing a development project for the accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025 Conformity assessment – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories performing speed estimation of vehicles from video evidence as stipulated in Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice (FSR CoP) version 2 DIG 301 requirements.

From this announcement, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email (DevelopmentEnquiries@ukas.com) by 18th August 2026.

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation, Police Force or Commercial entity
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in the forensic sector
• Current activity – are you already active in this area and have validated methodology in place and what that is. The scope of the activity that you are interested in applying for (please note that this project encompasses lab-based activities (FSR CoP version 2 DIG-301) only. Scene-based activities (INC-100) including CCTV extraction and test footage are not within the scope of this project).

The minimum criteria required to progress within the first stage of this project is below and to ascertain readiness for participation in this project, please provide copies of the following documentation with your application:

• Quality Manual
• Validation Plans for your proposed scope
• Documented procedures
• Confirmation that the applicant has a Quality Management System aligned to ISO/IEC 17025 in place.

Organisation’s that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend a meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. This will include “dry run activities” and could also include group preassessment activities A dry run is an informal collaborative activity designed to trail assessment mechanisms for this activity to ensure that they are suitable and discuss the process and progress with applicants. Following the interested parties meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

In line with UKAS confidentiality arrangements, assessment content, such as validation or methodology data and information, will not be shared with the FSR project group, but outcomes of the dry run assessments will be shared with the OFSR.

The OFSR has indicated that funding will be available to assist with costs and further details will be available regarding this following the deadline for expressions of interest.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process with the potential of also being utilised as an external Technical Assessor in this technical area.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the development project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

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UKAS is pleased to support the AI Standards Stack podcast, a series from the AI Quality Infrastructure Consortium (AIQI) exploring how standards, assurance and governance can help build trust and confidence in artificial intelligence.

As AI systems become more widely adopted across sectors, organisations are increasingly looking for credible ways to demonstrate that they are being developed, deployed and governed responsibly. AI assurance has an important role to play in this landscape, helping organisations, regulators, customers, investors and the public understand whether appropriate controls, standards and oversight are in place. The AI Standards Stack podcast is hosted by Professor Michael Mainelli, UKAS Non-Executive Director, and Adam Leon Smith, Chair of the AIQI Consortium. Across the series, they have been joined by a range of expert guests to explore the practical, technical and ethical questions shaping the future of AI assurance.

UKAS has supported several episodes in the series, featuring guests including Christine Chow (London School of Economics), Piercosma Bisconti Lucidi (DEXAI), Nicholas Beale (City of London Corporation), Patrick Sullivan (A-LIGN Certification), James Gealy (Safer AI) and Michael Thieme (Accenture). Together, these episodes provide a broad view of the evolving AI assurance landscape, from responsible AI governance and investor expectations through to certification, AI safety standards and the practical use of international standards.

In one episode, Christine Chow considers responsible AI governance through an investor lens, highlighting why robust data governance is a foundation for effective AI governance. This perspective is particularly relevant as organisations face increasing scrutiny over how AI systems are managed, how risks are controlled, and how governance arrangements can provide confidence to stakeholders beyond the organisation itself. The series also explores the ethical and social dimensions of AI. Piercosma Bisconti Lucidi discusses generative AI, ethics and the future of social interaction, including the implications of AI systems entering human social spaces and the risks that may arise when AI systems interact with one another. Nicholas Beale brings a mathematically grounded perspective to responsible AI, considering the risks of over-reliance on single AI systems, the limitations of human-in-the-loop approaches, and the importance of appropriate guardrails.

Other episodes focus more directly on the developing assurance infrastructure around AI. Patrick Sullivan provides a certifier-led view of AI assurance and ISO/IEC 42001, exploring what third-party certifiers do, how AI management system certification can support objective assurance, and why organisations are increasingly looking to certification as part of their approach to AI governance and risk management. In an episode with Michael Thieme, the series also looks at how standards can be made practical for professionals working with AI, discussing the need for “consumable” standards that can realistically be applied in the real world, particularly as organisations respond to rapid developments in generative AI. His episode considers issues such as AI verification, validation, performance measurement, reproducibility, terminology and the changing role of human oversight as agentic AI systems evolve.

A recent episode with James Gealy has explored AI safety standards for frontier models, including risk modelling work on how advanced models could amplify cyber threats, contribute to benchmark saturation and create real-world harms. The discussion also considers developing standards work on large language model benchmarking, red teaming and the safety of AI models, systems and applications.

Taken together, the series provides a useful and accessible overview of many of the issues now shaping AI assurance. It considers not only how AI systems can be designed and governed responsibly, but also how assurance mechanisms such as standards, certification, conformity assessment and accreditation may contribute to wider trust and confidence.

UKAS’s support for the series reflects its wider interest in the development of robust, credible and internationally relevant approaches to AI assurance. Accreditation has a key role to play in helping ensure that conformity assessment activities are delivered competently, consistently and impartially. As AI assurance continues to mature, the quality infrastructure will be important in supporting confidence in both AI systems and the organisations that assess them.

For organisations involved in evaluating, assessing or governing AI systems, the AI Standards Stack podcast provides useful insight into the evolving role of standards, accreditation and quality infrastructure in supporting credible AI assurance.

Listen to the series here: https://www.aiqi.org/newsroom/category/Podcast

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UKAS Chief Executive Matt Gantley joined international leaders at the 2026 TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) Summit to explore how accreditation and the wider Quality Infrastructure can keep pace with a rapidly changing world, with trust remaining at the heart of innovation. 

Brussels provided the backdrop for one of the TIC sector’s key events of the year, bringing together leaders from industry, policy and the global Quality Infrastructure community. For UKAS, the event was also an opportunity to champion the vital role of accreditation in building confidence, supporting innovation and helping society respond to rapid change. 

The summit focused on a key question: as geopolitics, technology, energy systems and trade continue to shift, how do we make sure innovation remains trusted? Across the day’s discussions, one message came through strongly — trust does not happen by accident. It is built through robust standards, effective conformity assessment and strong accreditation; all working together to give businesses, regulators and the public confidence in products and services. 

Speaking to delegates about the future of the global Quality Infrastructure, Matt set out both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity ahead. His message was clear: the world is changing fast and the systems that underpin trust must evolve with it. Accreditation, standards, metrology and conformity assessment cannot operate in isolation if they are to remain relevant in a more connected, complex and digital world. 

Matt said: “We are facing a bend in the road. Technologically, politically, environmentally and societally, the world is changing quickly. The challenge for all of us is to be prepared to travel in the same direction.” 

It was a powerful call for the sector to think collectively about what comes next and how the global Quality Infrastructure can stay fit for the future rather than trying to catch up after the fact. 

That future was a major theme throughout the day, especially in discussions around artificial intelligence. Delegates explored how AI is already changing the landscape for assurance, posing new questions about transparency, accountability, bias and risk. At the same time, it is opening up opportunities to modernise Quality Infrastructure itself — from smarter standards to better use of data and more responsive systems of oversight.  

In his address, Matt highlighted an important shift in how conformity assessment is understood. While compliance remains essential, the sector is increasingly being asked to do more: to help organisations manage future risk, strengthen resilience and build confidence in emerging technologies before problems arise. In practical terms, that means moving beyond retrospective checks towards more predictive, real-time and risk-based approaches — always grounded in competence, impartiality and integrity. 

There was also strong agreement at the Summit that the Quality Infrastructure community needs to speak with greater clarity and confidence about the value it brings to society. Too often, the work that underpins trust in safety, quality and fair trade happens behind the scenes. Events like the TIC Summit matter because they bring that invisible infrastructure into view and show how essential it is to industrial resilience, competitiveness and public confidence. 

In this period of rapid change, UKAS’s role safeguarding trust in conformity assessment has never been more important. If society is to embrace innovation with confidence, it needs assurance systems that are agile, aligned and fit for the future.  

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UKAS is aware of considerable speculation in the construction industry regarding the suspension of the accreditation of the British Board of Agrément, BBA, and therefore issues the following statement.

UKAS suspended all scopes of BBA’s accreditation on 26 February 2026. This suspension remains in force until and unless the BBA closes its findings to meet the requirements for the suspension to be lifted.

Role of accreditation in the market

UKAS is appointed by UK government as the National Accreditation Body. In this role, UKAS must act in accordance with various international and national standards. UKAS accreditation of organisations such as BBA gives the market confidence that they are competent, impartial and operating with integrity, in line with international standards.

To maintain confidence, accreditation must be thorough and robust. When an organisation does not meet the standard against which it is assessed, UKAS must (and does) take action that is proportionate to the issue.

UKAS suspension of BBA’s accreditation

UKAS may impose a suspension of accreditation where there are nonconformities against the requirements of the standard. UKAS does not suspend accreditation lightly, nor does it suspend accreditation for minor administrative or minor procedural reasons.

UKAS has granted nearly 3,000 accreditations and delivers 37,000 assessment days per year. Fewer than 20 accredited bodies are currently under UKAS imposed suspension.

A suspension is usually a temporary measure, from which the organisation is expected to regain accreditation within a short period (usually within 3 months although in exceptional circumstances this may be extended up to 9 months). UKAS may subsequently withdraw accreditation if the issues leading to suspension have not been adequately addressed within that period. More details are on the UKAS website[1].

UKAS’s suspension of BBA’s accreditation on 26 February 2026 may therefore last until 25 November 2026, at the latest. In the meantime, UKAS is in regular contact with BBA as it responds to nonconformities raised during assessments and works to address the findings which led to the suspension.

It is, nevertheless, the responsibility of BBA, not UKAS, to determine and take the necessary actions to bring itself back into conformity with the requirements of accreditation.

UKAS recognises and understands that the suspension of BBA’s accreditation has repercussions for BBA’s clients, for users of construction products certified by BBA, for government and regulators and for the market at large. UKAS is in regular contact not only with BBA, but also with key stakeholders, including regulators such as the Building Safety Regulator, relevant government departments (the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business and Trade), and relevant business representative bodies.

Impact on BBA certificates

BBA cannot issue new certificates under UKAS accreditation during its suspension. It is not prevented from offering conformity assessment services, but must not imply that these are UKAS accredited. Existing accredited certificates remain valid until their expiry date.

Confidentiality and further information

UKAS is not permitted to publicly disclose the reasons for suspension of accreditation, or any nonconformities identified during its assessments, due to contractual confidentiality between the accredited body and UKAS. However, where UKAS findings relate to regulatory or public safety matters, UKAS will disclose relevant information to UK regulators, competent authorities and government departments, as appropriate. Accordingly, while UKAS may engage with third parties, it cannot disclose details regarding the circumstances leading to BBA’s suspension at this time. BBA is responsible for informing its customers and any affected regulatory stakeholders of the suspension and responding to related enquiries.

UKAS will provide updates on the status of BBA’s accreditation as and when appropriate.

Further information on UKAS, its role and procedures can be found on www.ukas.com.

[1] An Overview of Sanctions – UKAS

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The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is proposing to establish a project to develop accreditation for ISO/IEC 17029 Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies of ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification.

Several core EU policies require or benefit from footprint data calculated and verified under ISO 14067

• EU Green Claims Directive: Imposes strict anti-greenwashing rules, requiring environmental and climate claims (such as “carbon neutral”) to be scientifically substantiated using standardized quantification.
• Digital Product Passports (DPP): Mandates precise product-level carbon data for access to sectors like batteries, textiles, and electronics. ISO 14067 provides the structure to meet these transparency thresholds.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Requires accurate, verifiable reporting of embedded greenhouse gas emissions for imported goods.
• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): Expands sustainability and circularity rules across broad product groups, increasingly necessitating Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs).

From this announcement, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email (developmentenquiries@ukas.com) by 3rd July  2026.

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in validation and verification activities in the sustainability sector
• Current activity – are you already working with clients in this area

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. Following this meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

Please note that if a development project was established a pilot programme will be required whereby there would be a development fee associated with participation in addition to the normal assessment fees.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process.

Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

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World Accreditation Day is always a significant moment for us as the UK’s National Accreditation Body. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the role accreditation plays in society, in the economy and in the everyday systems that people rely on, often without even knowing it. 

The theme for World Accreditation Day 2026, Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: The Power of Accreditation feels especially timely. 

It brings together three strands that are central to the future of accreditation and the wider quality infrastructure. Innovation is changing the world around us at extraordinary speed. Trust is becoming more important, and more fragile, in a complex and increasingly digital society. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern; it is fundamental to long-term resilience, competitiveness and public confidence. 

At UKAS, our purpose is clear: to safeguard public trust in conformity assessment. 

That purpose matters because most people cannot directly assess whether a laboratory, inspection body, certification body or validation and verification body is competent, impartial and reliable and operating to internationally recognised standards. They cannot see the full technical process behind a test result, an inspection report, a certification decision or a sustainability claim. They rely on a global system of confidence created by a network of national accreditation bodies, like UKAS. 

Our work as the national accreditation body contributes to the trust others place in accredited conformity assessment. That confidence supports regulation, enables trade, protects consumers, strengthens markets and helps organisations demonstrate that they are operating with competence and integrity. 

Matt Gantley, UKAS Chief Executive, says: “World Accreditation Day is an opportunity to recognise our contribution. But it is also imperative that we look forward. We are facing a bend in the road. Technologically, politically, environmentally and societally, the world is changing quickly. The challenge for all of us is to be prepared to travel in the same direction. 

“That means re-evaluating, resetting, reframing and reinforcing the quality infrastructure so that it remains fit for the future. It also means recognising that standards, metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation cannot operate as isolated silos. In a world shaped by complex technologies, global supply chains, digital systems and accelerating innovation, the value of the quality infrastructure will increasingly depend on how well the whole system works together. 

“That is why the 2026 World Accreditation Day theme is so powerful. Innovation, trust and sustainability are not separate priorities. They are deeply connected. Innovation needs trust if it is to be adopted safely and successfully. Trust needs accreditation if it is to be grounded in competence, impartiality and consistency. Sustainability needs credible assurance if claims are to stand up to scrutiny and drive real change.” 

For much of its history, conformity assessment has been understood through the lens of compliance: meeting a standard, satisfying a regulatory requirement, gaining access to a market or demonstrating that a product, process or organisation conforms to specified requirements. 

That role remains essential. Trust in conformity assessment depends on technical competence, consistent operational reliability and professional integrity. But the future asks more of us. 

Increasingly, in the era of artificial intelligence and interconnected technologies, the value of accreditation and conformity assessment will also be judged by how effectively it supports performance beyond compliance. That means helping organisations manage future risk, improve resilience, anticipate failure, strengthen supply chains, reduce waste and make better decisions. 

Within the TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) sector there is already a marked change in the direction of travel. Assurance mechanisms are moving from the assessment of physical products, assets and processes towards the assessment of digital systems, datasets, software, algorithms and AI-enabled technologies. This does not mean replacing human expertise, rather augmenting it so we can assess more intelligently, identify risk earlier and provide greater confidence in systems that are becoming more complex. It means using technology to improve the way we audit, verify more precisely and enhance control and risk management. 

Artificial intelligence is central to this change. UKAS co-founded the AIQI Consortium with the TIC Council and to date this has trained more than 7,000 professionals on AI management systems across the globe. UKAS has also granted the first accreditation for artificial intelligence management systems, demonstrating how accreditation is evolving to support emerging technologies. In parallel, initiatives such as the digitalisation of accreditation schedules show how UKAS is modernising its own services to enhance transparency, efficiency and accessibility. 

Sustainability is another defining priority of our time. Accreditation supports environmental protection, resource efficiency and climate action by ensuring that sustainability claims are credible, measurable and verified. From carbon reporting and energy management to circular economy initiatives, accredited services help organisations demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices with confidence and transparency. 

This year’s World Accreditation Day marks a significant milestone for the global accreditation community through the formation of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI), which began operations on 1 January 2026. As a unified international organisation for laboratory and certification accreditation, Global ACI represents a new era of collaboration, alignment and global confidence in conformity assessment. 

Juliette Love, Executive Director – Technical at UKAS says: “Accreditation provides the foundation for trust in an increasingly complex and interconnected world—enabling innovation to flourish while ensuring that sustainability claims are credible and verified. In this new era of global collaboration through Global  ACI, UKAS remains committed to delivering confidence in the systems and services that underpin modern life.” 

On this World Accreditation Day, we celebrate the powerful role played by accreditation enabling progress, building confidence and supporting a sustainable future. UKAS remains committed to advancing accreditation as a cornerstone of quality and trust in the ever-evolving global landscape. 

We also recognise the people behind accreditation—the technical experts, assessors and organisations whose dedication ensures the robustness and credibility of the system which is essential for maintaining confidence in the quality infrastructure.

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Each year, World Environment Day offers a moment to reflect on progress and to refocus efforts on the environmental challenges that continue to shape our future. In 2026, the message is clear: ambition alone is no longer enough. The global priority is shifting firmly towards practical, measurable solutions that build resilience and deliver lasting change.

For organisations across the UK, this shift is already underway. Environmental responsibility is no longer a standalone initiative or a compliance exercise; it is increasingly embedded within core business strategy. At the centre of this transformation is a familiar but evolving framework: ISO 14001.

A standard evolving with the times

The revised ISO 14001 standard reflects the changing expectations placed on organisations. Where earlier versions focused on establishing structured environmental management systems, the 2026 update pushes further by encouraging organisations to align environmental performance with broader business goals and global challenges such as climate change.

This evolution matters. It signals that environmental management systems are no longer just about identifying impacts and maintaining controls. They are increasingly focused on understanding environmental risks and opportunities and considering impacts across products, services and supply chains.

Climate change, biodiversity and the availability of natural resources are becoming more prominent considerations, alongside supply chain influence and lifecycle thinking. Together, they reinforce the idea that environmental responsibility extends well beyond an organisation’s immediate operations.

Environmental performance is increasingly connected to organisational governance, risk management and decision-making. It is no longer something that can sit solely with specialist teams; it requires engagement across the organisation.

As explored in UKAS insights on ISO 14001 revisions, these changes represent a broader shift towards management systems that are more integrated with business strategy and better equipped to respond to evolving environmental risks.

From systems to confidence

As expectations grow, so too does the need for confidence that environmental management systems are not only in place but are effective.

This is where accredited certification plays a vital role. UKAS-accredited certification provides independent assurance that an organisation’s environmental management system meets recognised standards and is being applied consistently. In a landscape where environmental claims are increasingly scrutinised, that assurance is critical.

It moves organisations beyond self-declaration and towards something far more valuable: trusted, evidence-based performance. As expectations increase, organisations are expected not only to implement environmental management systems but also to demonstrate that those systems are delivering their intended outcomes.

The economic case for environmental action

What is becoming increasingly clear is that environmental performance and economic performance are not competing priorities. They are closely linked.

Organisations with robust accredited management systems are often better equipped to manage risk, respond to change and operate efficiently. Over time, this translates into tangible benefits, whether through cost savings, improved resilience or enhanced reputation.

This is reflected in UKAS research on the economic value of accredited certification, which highlights how management systems contribute not only to compliance but to wider organisational performance and long-term value.

In this sense, standards like ISO 14001 are not just environmental tools. They are business tools that help organisations navigate complexity while maintaining a clear focus on sustainability.

A moment for meaningful progress

World Environment Day 2026 is ultimately a call to move forward with intent. The frameworks and standards already exist to support meaningful environmental action. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in how they are used.

ISO 14001, particularly in its updated form, provides a structure for organisations to better understand their impacts, manage environmental risks and opportunities and take informed action. Accreditation ensures that these systems are credible and effective. Together, they create a pathway from commitment to demonstrable impact.

As organisations reflect on their environmental responsibilities this World Environment Day, the focus should not only be on what they aim to achieve but on how they can prove progress along the way.

Because in today’s environment, it is not just action that matters. It is trusted, measurable action that delivers real change.

 

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The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is proposing to establish a project to develop accreditation for ISO/IEC 17029 Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies of ISO 14019-1:2026 Sustainability information Part 1: General principles and requirements for validation and verification Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification.

The ISO 14019 series is a globally recognized framework developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to standardize the validation and verification of sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data. It ensures that corporate sustainability claims are accurate, transparent, and credible.

From this announcement, UKAS will determine the demand and priority for developing accreditation in this area. Therefore, please could you register your interest in this activity to UKAS via email (developmentenquiries@ukas.com) by 26th June 2026

Organisations that wish to participate are asked to provide the following information:

• Name of organisation
• Confirm whether your interest is in assisting with the development of the assessment/or as a potential pilot project applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in validation and verification activities in the sustainability sector
• Current activity – are you already working with clients in this area

Organisations that submit an expression of interest will be invited to attend the meeting of interested parties where the terms of the project will be discussed along with a proposed timeline for key stages and any phased approach process that is deemed necessary. Following this meeting, conformity assessment bodies will be required to submit a formal application to UKAS for the scope of accreditation sought and an agreement to the terms and conditions of the pilot programme before their participation is confirmed. There will be an opportunity to ask any scope specific questions on the details of the pilot programme at this stage.

Please note that if a development project was established a pilot programme will be required whereby there would be a development fee associated with participation in addition to the normal assessment fees.

UKAS is currently gauging the potential level of interest in this area so would also like to hear from technical experts that may wish to support UKAS as a stakeholder to provide expertise and support to the development of accreditation criteria and process.

Please note that submitting an expressions of interest does not indicate any commitment to participate in the project on the part of the interested parties, and nor does the acceptance of an expression of interest commit UKAS to accept the interested party on any future pilot project.

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The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is initiating the development of accreditation for ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 for ISO/UNDP 53001 Management Systems supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Initiation Session

A project initiation meeting will take place via MS Teams on 11th  June 2026. During this meeting, the project scope, terms, proposed timeline for key stages, and delivery approach will be confirmed.

Organisations seeking to participate in the project are to confirm attendance by emailing developmentenquiries@ukas.com to secure a place. An MS Teams invitation will be issued to confirmed participants ahead of the session.

Information Required from Organisations

Participating organisations will be asked to provide the following details:

• Name of organisation
• Whether your organisation intends to support development activity or participate as a pilot applicant
• Status of any current accreditation
• Current involvement in management systems certification activities within the sustainability sector
• Current activity, including whether you are already working with clients in this area and actively certifying

Next Steps

Following the session, participating conformity assessment bodies will be invited to submit a formal application to UKAS specifying the scope of accreditation sought. Participation in the pilot programme will be confirmed following application and agreement of terms.

Pilot Programme and Fees

The project will proceed through a pilot programme to support development. Participation in the pilot will incur a development fee in addition to standard assessment fees.

Call for Technical Experts

UKAS invites technical experts to support the project as stakeholders, contributing expertise and guidance to the development of accreditation criteria and processes.

Participation Statement

Participation in the initiation session does not commit organisations to participation in the pilot stage. Entry into the pilot programme will be subject to formal application and agreement of terms.

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