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Which ISO Standard Do You Need?

Five standards get confused constantly. They are not tiers of the same thing - they cover completely different subjects.

What each one is actually about

StandardSubjectWho typically needs it
ISO 9001Quality management — doing consistently what you said you wouldAlmost everyone. The default when a buyer says “ISO” without specifying
ISO 14001Environmental managementManufacturing with environmental impact, and tenders that require it
ISO 45001Occupational health and safetyConstruction, mining, plant and site work — often an eligibility condition
ISO 22000Food safety managementFood processing, packing, storage and catering
ISO 27001Information securityIT services, data handling, and buyers who audit security

They are not levels. A business can hold one, several, or an integrated system covering more than one. Certifying to the wrong one costs the same as the right one and satisfies nobody.

Written 5 September 2026. Government requirements and portal behaviour change — message us to confirm before you rely on any date or figure here.

How to actually decide

1

Ask the buyer or read the tender

If someone is requiring it, they will say which. This answers the question in one step and it is the step people skip.

2

If nobody is requiring it, ask why you want it

For credibility, 9001 is the usual answer. For a specific risk - environmental, safety, food, data - the matching standard is the point.

3

Check what your sector expects

Construction and mining lean towards 45001, food towards 22000, IT towards 27001.

4

Consider whether more than one is coming

If two are likely within a couple of years, an integrated system is cheaper than two separate certifications.

5

Check accreditation before choosing a body

Whichever standard you pick - see our page on choosing a certification body.

Common questions

Ask them. If they cannot say, 9001 is the usual default, but a one-line question saves you certifying to the wrong thing.

It is the most general and the most widely held. Whether it is easier depends on your process, not on the standard.

Yes, and an integrated management system is often cheaper than two separate certifications and two sets of audits.

No. The numbers are just identifiers for different subjects. 45001 is not an upgrade on 9001.

Send us your case

Tell us what the business does and who is asking for certification. That is usually enough to answer it in one message.

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