I just received an email from my 3rd party assessor which said the TS rules are about to change and will make it mandatory that assessors are changed every three years. A complete new team must be used for the each three year cycle.

Has anyone else heard anything about this?

I haven't heard this. In the current TS Rules document it says the audit team "should" rotate out. Can you post the text of the email?

Sure - remember this is TO my assessor FROM his boss.

TS-16949 assessor retention after 3 years
I am receiving many requests from assessors and clients wanting to stay with/retain assessors for another three year cycle. Please do not submit any more. TS rules are about to change and will make it mandatory that assessors are changed every three years. A complete new team must be used for the each three year cycle.

I have been auditing for 4 years now and I haven't heard about this. I have just completed the tri annual recertifcation and the only thing that was different was the third party auditor.

:o

The new rules should be published next month.
This is one of the changes that I have heard for quite a while. Change of should to shall.