Reviewed By Reviewed and Approved by Kaci Foote, Accreditation Manager, FSNS Certification & Audit
1-Minute Summary
- ISO 19011:2026 replaces the 2018 edition and updates international guidance for auditing management systems.
- Guidance for remote and hybrid audits and virtual locations has been expanded to reflect current auditing practices.
- Artificial intelligence is now addressed, while auditor-competence guidance places greater emphasis on digital and emerging technologies.
- Risk-based auditing and information-security guidance have been strengthened, but the update does not change food safety certification requirements.
ISO 19011:2026 is Here – What Does it Mean for Your Site?
Published on May 27, 2026, ISO 19011:2026 is the fourth edition of the international guidance for auditing management systems. It replaces ISO 19011:2018 and updates the guidance to reflect the growing use of remote audits, digital systems, virtual locations, and artificial intelligence.
While not a certification standard, ISO 19011 provides a common framework for managing audit programs, conducting audits, and evaluating auditor competence.
Let’s look at the key changes to ISO 19011:2026 compared to its predecessor and what it means for your site.
| ISO 19011:2026 vs ISO 19011:2018 | Guidance Action |
| Remote and hybrid audits | Expanded |
| Virtual locations | Expanded |
| Artificial intelligence | Newly addressed |
| Auditor competence | Strengthened |
| Risk-based planning | Strengthened |
| Information security | Strengthened |
What Changed From ISO 19011:2018 to ISO 19011:2026?
The ISO 19011 update modernizes the guidance in several important areas:
- Remote and hybrid audit methods
- Auditing of virtual locations
- Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies
- Auditor competence in digital environments
- Risk-based audit planning
- Digital evidence and information security
If you detect a theme, you’re right – the updates largely encompass how digital technology should be used during the audit process.
How Has the Guidance for Remote and Hybrid Audits Changed?
For many, remote and hybrid audits emerged during the Covid pandemic. But remote auditing had already been addressed in the 2018 edition. ISO 19011:2026 provides even more detailed guidance for deciding when audit activities should be conducted remotely, on-site, or through a combination of both methods.
The selected approach must allow the auditor to obtain sufficient and reliable evidence. Relevant considerations include:
- Audit scope
- Processes being evaluated
- Technology capabilities
- Access to records and personnel
- Need to observe physical conditions
The new edition also gives more attention to practical issues such as technology checks, connection failures, secure access, screenshots, recordings, and confidentiality.
Remote methods are treated as an established part of auditing, not simply an alternative used when an on-site audit is unavailable. However, they should not replace physical observation when an auditor cannot reach a reliable conclusion remotely.
What Does ISO 19011:2026 Say About Virtual Locations?
The 2026 ISO 19011 revision gives greater recognition to activities performed through digital environments rather than at a traditional physical site.
A virtual location may include processes conducted through cloud-based systems, online platforms, or distributed teams. Audit planning should account for where the activity occurs, who performs it, and how the auditor can access the necessary systems and evidence.
How Does ISO 19011:2026 Address Artificial Intelligence?
AI is continuing to reshape nearly everything in our society, including food safety and other audits.
ISO 19011:2026 does not require auditors or audited organizations to use AI. It recognizes, however, that AI-based evaluation tools may be used to analyze information or support audit activities.
When these tools are used, auditors should understand:
- Whether the technology is appropriate for the audit activity
- Its limitations and potential biases
- The reliability and relevance of its output
- How its use could affect audit conclusions
- The confidentiality and security implications
The main takeaway regarding AI is that, while it may support an audit, it does not replace professional judgment. The auditor remains responsible for evaluating the evidence and supporting the conclusions.
How Have Auditor-Competence Expectations Evolved?
With the rise of artificial intelligence and other digital innovations, you can imagine that auditors must now have the necessary technical proficiency to effectively use these tools.
Depending on the audit, an auditor may need competence related to:
- Electronic records
- Remote communication platforms
- Digital evidence
- Information-security risks
- AI-based evaluation tools
These capabilities are effective supplements to auditor competence. But auditors must still understand the applicable audit criteria, the organization and its processes, and the technical context of the activities being evaluated.
How Has the Risk-Based Approach Been Strengthened?
Risk-based auditing is not new. It was already one of the seven auditing principles in ISO 19011:2018.
ISO 19011:2026 strengthens this principle by providing more practical guidance on how risk should influence:
- Audit-program priorities
- Objectives
- Scope
- Methods
- Resource allocation
- Sampling
The revised guidance also recognizes that an audit plan may need to change as new information emerges. Audit effort should remain responsive to the risks, changes, and performance issues identified during the audit.
What Has Changed Around Digital Evidence and Information Security?
Continuing with the theme of digital technology, ISO 19011:2026 recognizes that more audit evidence is created, stored, accessed, and shared electronically.
This may include:
- Cloud-based records
- Electronic monitoring data
- Shared screens
- Digital images and video
- Automated reports
- Information generated or analyzed using AI
The updated guidance places greater emphasis on protecting this information. Auditors must consider authorized access, confidentiality, secure technology, data reliability, and agreed controls for recording or retaining information.
Does ISO 19011:2026 Change Food Safety Certification Requirements?
No. ISO 19011:2026 does not change the requirements of BRCGS Food Safety, SQF, FSSC 22000, GMP programs, customer standards, or food safety regulations.
Nor does it determine certification decisions, nonconformity grades, audit scores, corrective-action deadlines, or required food safety records. Those requirements continue to come from the applicable certification program, regulation, customer standard, or other audit criteria.
What Should You Do Next?
Review your internal audit procedures and auditor training to determine whether they reflect the updated guidance on risk, remote methods, digital tools, and information security. For certification audits, continue preparing against the requirements of your applicable food safety standard, which ISO 19011:2026 does not change.
If you have questions about the update or an upcoming food safety certification audit, contact our Certification & Audit team.
