ISO 20252 Draft Standard Released for Public Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISO 20252 Draft Standard Released for Public Comment

Global Research and Insights Industry Invited to Help Shape the Future of Quality Standards

July 22, 2025 The ISO Technical Committee 225 (TC225) – comprised of current research practitioners and quality auditors from around the globe – has released the draft revision of the ISO 20252 standard for public comment, inviting the worldwide research, insights, and analytics community, as well as the organizations that rely on them, to review and provide feedback ahead of the committee’s final review in Prague this September.

This is an important milestone for the industry due to the relevance of this standard in the international quality management scheme and its impact on many entities that work under it to ensure excellence and continuous improvement within the sector for themselves and for third parties. As research practices evolve rapidly in response to AI, automation, and shifting consumer behaviours, the ISO 20252 standard is evolving too, ensuring it remains a relevant, future-ready benchmark for quality and accountability.

What’s happening now?

• The draft of the revised ISO 20252 standard is now open for public comment until mid-August 2025.
• Feedback will be reviewed by TC225 at its next meeting in Prague, September 2025.
• Comments should be submitted via each country’s National Standards Body (NSB) or affiliated research association.

Why this matters
The TC225 committee’s role is to maintain a single, comprehensive quality standard that guides how research and insights projects are planned, executed, and reported. This revision reflects 18 months of global collaboration to ensure the standard keeps pace with the industry’s transformation.

Key updates in the draft include:

• Integration of AI and automation across core clauses and annexes (e.g. translation, coding, analysis).
• Strengthened data quality requirements in sampling and panel management (Annex A and new Annex G).
• Updated terminology and alignment with other ISO standards (e.g. ISO 27001).
• Technical updates across all annexes to reflect current research practices and best practices in managing respondent privacy.

What’s next?
This release is the first step in a broader communications effort. A separate campaign will follow the Prague meeting, focused on helping currently certified or aligned organisations understand the transition timeline, support resources, and what the changes mean for them.

Get involved
We encourage all research professionals, research service suppliers, and brand-side insight teams to review the draft and contribute their perspectives. Your feedback will help shape a standard that supports innovation, trust, and quality across the global research ecosystem.

Feedback can be provided to your NSB or the following membership bodies ahead of the deadline: Australia – ADIA & The Research Society (TRS), Austria – VMO, Canada – CRIC, China – CMRA, EU – ESOMAR Professional Standards Committee, Germany – ADM, Italy – ASSIRM, Japan – JMRA, Netherlands – Data & Insights Network, Peru – APEIM, Spain – I+A, Switzerland – VSMS / Swiss Insights, The Americas – ARIA, UK – MRS, USA -Insights Association / CIRQ.

ISO 20252 is the international standard for market, opinion, and social research. It establishes terms, definitions, and service requirements for service providers conducting these types of research, including insights and data analytics.