Clause Annex Aclarifiedinfo typical effort 2-4 hours
Annex A guidance substantially revised
What changed in the 2026 revision
The guidance in Annex A has been 'substantially revised and improved for various clauses to support interpretation of the requirements.' This means auditors will have clearer benchmarks for what 'good' looks like.
What auditors will look for
When the 2026 standard is published, review the updated Annex A guidance carefully. Auditors will use the improved guidance to inform their assessments. This is especially important for clauses where you have partial compliance — the clearer guidance may raise or lower the bar for what is considered adequate.
How to close the gap
- 1Review updated Annex A guidance when the standard is published
- 2Brief internal auditors on any changes to interpretation
- 3Update internal audit criteria to align with revised guidance
Does your documentation meet this requirement?
Free scan checks this and the other 40 tracked changes against your actual EMS documents.
Planning your transition timeline? Use the free deadline calculator →