ISO 9001 which gives the requirements for quality management systems, is now firmly established as the globally implemented standard for providing assurance about the ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships.

ISO 14001 which gives the requirements for environmental management systems, confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.

ISO 37001 is an international standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). It provides organizations with a framework to prevent, detect, and address bribery, both internally and externally. The standard outlines requirements and guidance for establishing an anti-bribery policy, conducting risk assessments, implementing controls, and promoting a culture of transparency and integrity. Applicable to organizations of all sizes and sectors, ISO 37001 helps mitigate bribery risks, ensuring compliance with anti-corruption laws and enhancing business reputation. It also supports continuous improvement through regular audits and assessments.

ISO 41001 is an international standard that provides a framework for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and improve an effective facility management (FM) system. It is applicable to organizations of all types and sizes, including public and private sectors, regardless of the nature of the business or geographical location.

The standard aims to help organizations demonstrate effective and efficient delivery of FM services that support the objectives of the demand organization, consistently meet the needs of interested parties and applicable requirements, and be sustainable in a globally competitive environment.

ISO 45001 is an International Standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, with guidance for its use, to enable an organization to proactively improve its OH&S performance in preventing injury and ill-health.

ISO 50001 is an international standard that provides a framework for organizations of any size to establish, implement, and maintain an energy management system. It enables them to systematically improve energy performance, optimize energy use, reduce energy costs, and support environmental sustainability through continuous improvement.

IATF 16949 is an international standard aiming to the development of a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

ISO 13485 is an ISO standard, published in 2003, that represents the requirements for a comprehensive management system for the design and manufacture of medical devices.

ISO 19001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for information supplied by the manufacturer with in vitro diagnostic reagents used in biological staining. It ensures that manufacturers provide clear and consistent information, facilitating proper usage and interpretation of these reagents in laboratory settings.

ISO/IEC 17025 specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods.

ISO 21001 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that provides a framework for educational organizations to establish effective management systems. It aims to help these organizations meet learners’ needs and enhance their satisfaction by improving educational processes and ensuring conformity to learners’ requirements.

ISO 22000 specifies requirements for a food safety management system where an organization in the food chain needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of human consumption.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a systematic preventive approach to food safety and pharmaceutical safety that addresses physical, chemical, and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection.

“Good manufacturing practice” or “GMP” is part of a quality system covering the manufacture and testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostics, foods, pharmaceutical products, and medical devices. GMPs are guidelines that outline the aspects of production and testing that can impact the quality of a product. Many countries have legislated that pharmaceutical and medical device companies must follow GMP procedures, and have created their own GMP guidelines that correspond with their legislation.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a framework used to evaluate an organization’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues.

It encompasses three main components:

• Environmental: Assesses how a company performs as a steward of nature, including factors like carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and pollution mitigation.
• Social: Examines how a company manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and communities, covering aspects such as labor rights, diversity policies, and data privacy.
• Governance: Evaluates a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights, focusing on ethical business practices and board structure.

ESG criteria are increasingly used by investors to screen potential investments, aiming to identify companies that are not only financially sound but also committed to sustainable and ethical practices.

This approach aligns investment strategies with broader societal values, promoting responsible corporate behavior.

Halal Certificate is an official document issued by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) that verifies a product or service complies with Islamic dietary laws and is permissible for consumption or use by Muslims.

The certification process involves a thorough assessment to ensure that products are free from prohibited substances, such as pork and alcohol, and that they meet the standards prescribed by Islamic Sharia law.

ISO/IEC 27001 covers all types of organizations (e.g. commercial enterprises, government agencies, not-for profit organizations). ISO/IEC 27001:2005 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving a documented Information Security Management System within the context of the organization’s overall business risks. It specifies requirements for the implementation of security controls customized to the needs of individual organizations or parts thereof.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products. This offers customers around the world the ability to choose products from socially and environmentally responsible forestry.

The Green Gold Label (GGL) certification is a way of ensuring that the biomass used for bioenergy and biobased products is produced, processed, and transported in a sustainable manner. In short, it is an international certification programme for sustainable biomass.

GGL was established in 2002 and is owned by the Green Gold Label Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands. GGL covers the complete supply chain from production, processing, transport to final use for bioenergy and biobased applications. The scope includes woody, agri-residue and waste wood biomass, as well as bioliquids.

GGL certification can help biomass producers, traders, and users to demonstrate their compliance with various sustainability criteria and regulations. For example, GGL certification can help to meet the requirements of the European Union Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), which sets mandatory sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids used in the EU. GGL certification can also help to access new markets and customers who value sustainability.

The Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices (GDPMD) applies to all companies carrying out activities, as stated in the Medical Devices Act 2012 (Act 737). The companies involved in the supply chain of medical devices must establish, implement and maintain a quality management system.

The certification ensures an establishment’s ability to maintain the quality, safety and performance of medical devices in its custody. The standard involves parties such as representatives of foreign manufacturers, importers and distributors of medical devices in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification has been mandatory since the end of 2019, following a structured implementation timeline. Plantation industries that already held RSPO certification were required to comply by December 31, 2018. Those without any certification had until June 30, 2019, while smallholders were given until December 31, 2019, to meet the requirements.

Originally introduced as MSPO 1.0, the certification standard laid the foundation for sustainable palm oil production in Malaysia by aligning management practices with national laws and regulations. MSPO 1.0 was instrumental in promoting sustainable practices across the industry but has since evolved into MSPO 2.0 (MS2530:2022). The latest version strengthens environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, introducing enhanced criteria such as greenhouse gas (GHG) management, High Conservation Value (HCV) area protection, and stricter labor rights guidelines.

MSPO stands alongside other global sustainability standards, including the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), but is uniquely tailored to Malaysia’s palm oil industry. This certification underscores Malaysia’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social responsibility.

In February 2024, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) amended several management system standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, to incorporate climate change considerations.

Key Amendments:

• Clause 4.1: Organizations are now required to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue affecting their context.
• Clause 4.2: A note has been added indicating that interested parties may have requirements related to climate change.

These amendments emphasize the need for organizations to assess the relevance of climate change within their operational context and consider any related requirements from interested parties. The intention is not to mandate specific actions but to ensure that climate change is considered during the organization’s contextual analysis.

The amendments apply to all Type A ISO management system standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems).

Organizations are encouraged to integrate these considerations into their management systems to align with global climate action commitments. Audits conducted on or after March 18, 2024, will include assessments against the amended standard verbiage.