December 15, 2025

Will ISO 17025 certification for food testing labs be valid in 2026?

The global business prospect for the food chain industry continues to be high. Understandably, the food safety concerns remain a top priority for both the consumer and the manufacturers. The regulators often reform and update the obligations, due to which it is necessary to stay certified with ISO 17025. Especially for the food testing laboratories, it is mandatory to seek the ISO 17025 accreditation, as that sets the most relevant set of clauses for compliance. To validate the results and ensure reliability, the standard plays a pivotal role. However, the question is, will ISO 17025 certification for food testing labs stay relevant in 2026? The answer is – yes, it will be. Why?

The following blog gives the details!

What is ISO/IEC 17025, and why does it matter for Food Testing Labs?

• The standard sets the general requirements for the testing and calibration laboratories. The food testing laboratories belong to the same sector.
• ISO 17025 ensures valid methods, controls, and reduces measurement uncertainty for the food testing laboratories. At the same time, it enhances personnel competence level to ensure reproducible results.
• Like any other ISO standard, ISO 17025 is accepted internationally. If you want your food testing laboratories to be recognized by any international body, then accreditation is more than a necessity. Both for the national and international markets, the standard acts as a competitive edge.
• However, some laboratories use the AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) guidelines alongside ISO 17025 clauses to meet industry/region-specific criteria.

Why ISO 17025 Will Still Be Relevant in 2026?

1. Ongoing Validity Through Accreditation Renewal – Accreditation renewal is not something that is a one-time investment. Through surveillance audits and reassessments, companies renew their accreditation every three consecutive years. Many accreditations under the ISO 17025 benchmark are valid till 2026. Hence, when it comes to the ongoing validity of lab operations, the standard is still a relevant choice in the upcoming year.

2. The Latest Version in Use – The latest version of the ISO standard was last updated in 2017. Most laboratories are accredited under the ISO 17025:2017 version. Till now, there have been no major updates regarding new versions or modifications. It means, laboratories accredited under the ISO 17025 will have a competitive boost in 2017.

3. Strong Regulatory and Industry Demand – Both the regulatory and food safety authorities need the accreditation for the laboratories, which are directly or indirectly associated with food testing. ISO 17025 offers global access, as the clauses ensure zero glitch in method validation and measurement uncertainty (as already mentioned above). Through meeting compliance consistently, companies establish their brand both in the domestic and global markets in 2026.

4. Adaptability to New Methods – Like ISO 9001, the ISO 17025 standard is flexible. It can be used alongside other standards and applies to enterprises regardless of size. The methods can be easily integrated with other methods designed by individual laboratories. As laboratory methods keep evolving, complying with this standard only adds to the advantage in 2026. All the new methods will not be exhausting when there is the assistance of the ISO laboratory management clauses.

Things That Food Testing Labs Should Watch Out for

• Maintain Continuous Compliance: Accreditation bodies perform periodic assessments, so labs must keep their quality systems, documentation, and technical processes up to date.
• Method Validation: If labs introduce new or modified methods, they need to verify them under their own lab conditions, per ISO 17025 clauses (e.g., Clause 7.2).
• Proficiency Testing: Participation in inter-lab comparisons or proficiency testing is often required to demonstrate consistent performance.
• Stay Updated on Guidance: Sector-specific guidance (for example, AOAC’s guidelines for food testing) may be updated; labs should track such changes. In fact, AOAC released a new guideline in 2024.
• Engage with Accreditation Bodies: Work closely with the accreditation body (NABL or others) during surveillance and reassessment to ensure no non-conformities threaten certification validity.

To find experienced professional support for obtaining the ISO 17025and the internal audit requirements, contact us at Compliancehelp Consulting LLC. We are a premier firm that can help you achieve any ISO certification in the USA. Our bespoke solutions for ISO and other global certifications are ready to make the seemingly exhausting accreditation process comfortable and completed on time. From basic consultation to audit and analysis, we will cover everything. Get help to clear your concepts regarding the clauses of any management system standard you require.

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