Cuban companies certified under the NC-ISO 14001:2015 standard will have a transition period of two years and nine months to adapt their environmental management systems to the new version NC-ISO 14001:2026.

The update responds to the publication, on 15 April, of the fourth edition of the international standard ISO 14001:2026, dedicated to environmental management systems and their requirements for application in organisations.

According to information from the Certification Directorate of the National Standardisation Office (ONN), the new edition replaces ISO 14001:2015 and its 2024 amendment, following a technical review of its contents.

The standard provides a framework for entities to protect the environment, respond to changing environmental conditions and harmonise these purposes with socio-economic needs.

«Although the general changes are considered minimal, each entity must assess their impact according to its context, activities and level of risk,» states the note issued by the ONN.

Among the main novelties are the updating of terms and definitions to align them with the Harmonised Structure of management system standards; clarifications on the availability of documented information and the incorporation of aspects related to climate change in sections concerning the organisation’s context and interested parties.

The concept of «legal and other requirements» is also replaced by «compliance obligations»; a specific section on risks and opportunities is incorporated; and provisions on action and change planning are added.

The formal transition period began with the official publication of NC-ISO 14001:2026 on 15 May 2026, and consequently, certificates issued under the NC-ISO 14001:2015 version will cease to be valid from 15 February 2029.

From 2 November 2026, certified organisations may undergo surveillance or renewal audits under the new version of the standard, for which they must communicate to the Certification Directorate or the Technical Area Manager their decision to update, as well as report the changes that have occurred in their environmental management system, with a view to service scheduling.

The update will not require additional audit time. Certificates adapted to NC-ISO 14001:2026 will maintain their certification cycles, provided the process is carried out within the established provisions for the transition.

Entities that receive granting or renewal audits under the previous standard after the issuance of the information note may obtain certificates with a maximum validity until 15 May 2029, the date on which the transition plan concludes. Subsequently, they must update to the new version to adjust the validity dates according to their certification cycle.

According to ONN Certification management, the main recommendation for organisations is not to postpone the process. Experiences associated with the transitions of the 2004 and 2015 ISO versions show that leaving the update to the last months can lead to rushed audits, more non-conformity findings and additional costs.

As part of the preparation, it is suggested to study the new requirements, conduct a diagnosis of the environmental management system, identify gaps and establish corrective actions. It is also recommended to pay special attention to the formalisation of change planning and the updating of Cuban environmental legal requirements.

It is also essential to disseminate the modifications among workers, managers and other interested parties, strengthening awareness of the importance of environmental management for achieving institutional objectives and contributing to sustainable development.