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Certification Connection
EAGLE's Client Newsletter
January 2026
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Key Upcoming Changes
ISO 9001:2026
Contributed by:
David Rubin | EAGLE Auditor & Michael Abbott | EAGLE Technical Manager
ISO 9001:2026 is set to bring updates that strengthen alignment with modern business practices, risk management, and quality culture. CLICK HERE to learn more on how to prepare.
ISO 14001:2026
Contributed by Jen Koenig | EAGLE Auditor
ISO 14001:2026 is scheduled for deployment in the upcoming months. Like ISO 9001:2026, this standard must be updated periodically to align with our modern business and environmental management needs. CLICK HERE to learn more on how to prepare.
Upgrade to IATF 16949 |
Special Offer for our ISO 9001 Clients
Contributed by Alli McGee | Business Development Manager
We appreciate your commitment to quality through ISO 9001 certification. As the automotive industry continues to raise the bar, now is the perfect time to upgrade to IATF 16949 certification, and we’re making it easier for you!
Special offer for current ISO 9001 clients:
- Pay your current ISO 9001 rates for your IATF 16949 registration audit activities.
- Enjoy up to 20% reduction in Stage 2 audit duration, saving time and resources.
This is a limited-time opportunity to strengthen your competitive edge while keeping costs predictable.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us at info@eaglecertificationgroup.com.
Corrective Actions | Containment and Correction
Contributed by:
Michael Abbott | EAGLE Technical Manager & Mallory Lucas | EAGLE Food Technical Manager
In today’s fast-paced business environment, maintaining safety, quality, and compliance is critical to our success. When issues arise, the speed and effectiveness of our response can make the difference between a minor disruption and a major impact on customers and operations.
This training focuses on two essential components of the corrective action process:
Containment and Correction. These steps are the foundation for managing nonconformities effectively, ensuring immediate control of the situation, and restoring compliance before moving
on to root cause analysis and preventive measures.
GFSI Audit Opening and Closing Meetings
Contributed by Kellie Worrell | Senior Certification Manager, GLOBALG.A.P. and PrimusGFS
For all GFSI audits, Opening and Closing Meetings are vital components. Hence, there are several key items that shall be addressed during each meeting.
Opening Meetings
- The scope of the audit is confirmed.
- The plan for the audit laid out and agreed upon.
- Any changes in operation since prior audits are discussed.
Closing Meetings
- Findings of the audit are summarized, including any findings.
- Next steps are discussed.
- A timeline is provided for remaining certification activities.
It is important that a representative from the site’s management team attends both the Opening and Closing Meetings of the audit. While portions of the audit may be conducted by various other team members, management needs to be involved in the discussions during these meetings. GFSI schemes, such as GLOBALG.A.P., require this level of participation. The Leave-Behind Report must be signed by a member of the site’s management team or a full-time employee. This demonstrates your facility’s commitment to maintaining a strong food safety and quality culture.
Please keep in mind that having management present at both the Opening and Closing Meetings is a key expectation and an important part of the audit process.
Standards & Program Revision Overview
Contributed by Jessica Osborne | Chief Program Officer
As global industries evolve, so do the standards that guide quality, safety, and compliance. Staying ahead of these changes is critical for organizations committed to excellence. EAGLE Certification Group actively monitors international standards and certification programs to ensure our clients are prepared for upcoming revisions. Below is a high-level overview of current standards and anticipated updates.
McDonald's Supplier Audit Standards
Contributed by Lindsey Stafford | Director of Certification (Food)
By the end of the year, McDonald’s will release the updated Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS) 6.0. The new version aligns with their digital transformation strategy and incorporates key learnings since our last update four years ago. SQMS 6.0 is designed to raise the bar for food safety and quality by:
- Setting expectations of purposeful investment in Food Safety design at supplier facility locations;
- Incorporating an improved, science-based approach to GMPs;
- Adding unannounced SQMS audits for increased vigilance;
- Increasing expectations related to food safety digital controls;
- Focusing on prevention through equipment hygienic design and environmental monitoring;
- Encouraging risk modeling and AI to understand the impact of climate change and unusual weather events on food safety.
In 2026, McDonald's will begin preparing teams with more information, and by January 2027, all active global and local suppliers will be required to meet these new food safety requirements. More to come soon!
Welcome New EAGLE Employees
We are pleased to announce the addition of three new team members to EAGLE.
- Ben Lakeberg | Global Account Manager (returning employee)
- Michael Abbott | EAGLE Technical Manager
- Amy Euton | Financial Administrator
Please join us in extending a warm welcome and offering your ongoing support as they share their expertise and contribute to EAGLE.
New Products and Programs
What's Incubating?
Contributed by Jessica Osborne | Chief Program Officer
As we begin 2026, EAGLE Certification Group continues to advance key certification programs and evaluate emerging opportunities that support our clients’ evolving needs. Below is a snapshot of focus areas shaping the year ahead---read on for more details.
EAGLE: Your International Partner
Contributed by Ben Lakeberg | Global Account Manager
Since its founding, EAGLE has recognized the importance of international growth, not for growth’s sake, but to better support clients operating in an increasingly global and complex environment. Whether through our existing clients expanding their partnership with EAGLE abroad, growing independent client relationships in Canada and Mexico, or EAGLE’s ascension to become the US member of IQNET in 2019, EAGLE has consistently operated with a global mindset.
EAGLE Offers HPSS as a GLOBALG.A.P. Certification
Contributed by Kellie Worrell | Senior Certification Manager, GLOBALG.A.P. and PrimusGFS
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) is Agraya’s flagship GLOBALG.A.P. Food Safety Certification scheme. In addition to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and basic food safety criteria, IFA also includes environmental sustainability (including IPM) and worker protection criteria.
GLOBALG.A.P. also offers an additional GFSI-benchmarked scheme, the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS), which focuses exclusively on GAP and food safety.
EAGLE Certification Group now offers HPSS in addition to IFA. Audit duration for HPSS tends to be similar to IFA, covering both pre-harvest and post-harvest production processes and is aligned with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. HPSS is intended for fruit and vegetable producers (single or multisite) who supply the US market. It also allows for greater flexibility in MRL sampling requirements depending on the country(ies) in which the product is intended to be traded.
If you're interested in HPSS certification, please contact us at info@eaglecertificationgroup.com.
New White Paper |
ISO 14001: Prioritizing Aspects and Impacts
Contributed by Jack Hamilton | Senior Business Development Manager
EAGLE is pleased to introduce our new ISO 14001 white paper focused on Aspects and Impacts & Risk. The processes shared in this document are used to help manage the risk of environmental concerns or obligations. If implementing or managing the ISO 14001 standard, aspects and impacts will be part of the program.
2025 IQNET Year-End Meeting Update
Contributed by Ben Lakeberg | Global Account Manager
In November, EAGLE participated in the IQNET Year-End Meeting, held virtually with all 37 IQNET members. The meeting brought together certification bodies from around the globe to share insights and align on key industry developments. A major emphasis was placed on strengthening collaboration within IQNET to ensure members continue to provide value and relevant thought leadership that resonates across the markets we serve.
The 2024 ISO Survey Results are Here!
Contributed by Ben Lakeberg | Global Account Manager
The latest ISO Survey, released in September 2025, is a key indicator for how businesses are approaching today’s increased risk environment. Based on the new data, nearly 1.5 million organizations worldwide have been certified to ISO 9001, while ISO 14001 (676,000) and ISO 45001 (542,500) certificate numbers have also demonstrated strong global adoption, reflecting ongoing organizational commitments to environmental management and occupational health and safety.
EAGLE Sponsored Training
Preventive Controls for Human Food, Version 2.0
This live virtual 3-day course, developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, uses the ONLY curriculum recognized by the FDA as one way to meet requirements. The course will be taught by a Lead Instructor for the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Course, and includes increased emphasis on the connection between HACCP and Preventive Controls.
February 4-6, 2026 | 9AM-5PM ET Daily
Note: If you are unable to attend this February course, there will be one offered May 6-8.
Developing and Implementing HACCP Plans
This live virtual introductory course provides the essentials for developing a HACCP Plan. The class follows CODEX and NACMCF Guidelines, is accredited by the International HACCP Alliance, and is designed to meet the HACCP requirements of Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked audits such as SQF, and BRCGS.
March 11-12, 2026 | 9AM-5PM ET Daily
EAGLE Promoted Training
EAGLE is excited to share opportunities for Food Safety Training Classes with Superior Food Safety. All SQF classes are taught by an SQF Licensed Trainer and all FSPCA classes are taught by FSPCA Lead Instructors. All classes are Virtual-Online and On-Site.
