Key Elements of ISO 14001

The Resources, Roles, Responsibility, and Authority; Legal and Other Requirements; Evaluation of Compliance; and Nonconformity, Corrective Action and Preventive Action elements of ISO 14001 are all essential to the ongoing effectiveness of the EMS. This section describes how they function within the overall scheme.

1. Resources, Roles, Responsibility, and Authority (ISO 14001:2004, ?4.4.1)

?4.4.1 of ISO 14001 establishes three important requirements:

1. That management ensure the availability of resources to establish, implement, maintain, and improve the EMS;

2. That roles, responsibilities, and authorities be defined, documented, and communicated in order to facilitate effective environmental management; and

3. That top management appoint a management representative(s) who, irrespective of other responsibilities, will have responsibility and authority for implementing and maintaining the EMS and for reporting to top management on the performance of the EMS.

Ensuring Availability of Resources – Provision of resources for the EMS is almost always an issue within organizations. Although top management usually understands and accepts, at least in principle, the requirement to provide resources, the level of management that makes decisions on capital deployment and operating budgets often does not subscribe to the same requirement. Making the case for resources typically requires the implementation team or management representative to quantify intangibles such as the avoided cost of regulatory fines or the value to the environment of reducing environmental impacts.

When considering the requirement to provide resources, especially financial resources, it may be important to recognize that ISO 14001 requires the provision of resources for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of the EMS, not necessarily resources to correct or prevent environmental impacts or to register to ISO 14001. When contemplating the cost of implementing ISO 14001, organizations, again, should think in terms of three separate cost categories:

1) Internal labor and external consultant costs to establish, implement, maintain, and improve the policy and procedural elements of ISO 14001;

2) Capital costs for correction or prevention of environmental impacts; and

3) Costs of registration to ISO 14001, if the organization elects to register.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities – In the past, some organizations have employed a practice of not delegating responsibility and authority for environmental affairs to specific management representatives, reasoning that if the responsibility was diffused throughout the organization, no one person could become personally accountable for non-compliance with regulations or for environmental liabilities. §4.4.1 of ISO 14001 limits such ‘willful ignorance’ by requiring top management of the organization to appoint “specific management representative(s)” to ensure that the EMS is implemented and that top management be apprised of EMS performance. It also requires that the delegation of responsibility and authority be documented and communicated, thus eliminating circumstances where responsibility and authority for the EMS are diffuse or uncertain.

When §4.4.1 is read together with the requirement of the Environmental Policy for a commitment to comply with applicable legal requirements, §4.3.2, Legal and Other

Requirements, requiring a procedure for identifying legal requirements (following), and §4.5.2, Evaluation of Compliance, requiring a procedure for evaluating regulatory compliance, it is evident that the management representative is also responsible for ensuring that the organization is in compliance with applicable regulations. While this responsibility and authority can be delegated, the chain of delegation begins with top management and is passed to the management representative, effectively eliminating any uncertainty as to who is responsible and authorized to ensure regulatory compliance.

EMS Organizational Structure – There is an almost universal norm for the management structure of the EMS organization under ISO 14001. It begins with the top management position, proceeds to the top manager’s leadership team, and then to an EMS implementation team that is generally chaired by the management representative. The departments making up the relevant functions and levels of the organization and environmental, safety, and health professionals comprise the typical implementation team.

Defining Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities for the EMS – In defining, documenting, and communicating EMS roles, responsibilities, and authorities, it makes sense to begin with top management and proceed through all of the positions having EMS responsibilities. Following is a generic example of how roles, responsibilities, and authorities might be documented and communicated in an EMS Procedures Manual:

Plant Manager

Authority: The Plant Manager has the authority, responsibility, and accountability for managing all aspects of ABC Company’s activities, products, and services at the Anytown facility.Source: Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, ABC Company, Inc.

EMS Responsibilities: Under the requirements of ISO 14001, the Plant Manager shall be specifically responsible for:

1) Defining the Environmental Policy;

2) Delegating authority and responsibility for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of the EMS;

3) Providing human, technological, infrastructure, and financial resources and specialized skills; and

4) Periodically reviewing the EMS for suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness and directing changes as necessary to achieve the goals for an EMS and the commitment to continual improvement.

Leadership Team

EMS Responsibilities: The Leadership Team shall advise the Plant Manager on the exercise by

the Plant Manager of his/her responsibilities for the EMS.

Management Representative, Implementation and Maintenance Responsibilities

EMS Authority: The Plant Manager delegates to the Manager, ______ _______, the authority

to establish, implement, maintain, and improve the Environmental Management System and to

ensure that it conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001. In the context of ISO 14001, the

Manager, _____ _________, shall be the Management Representative.

Origins of the ISO’s Work

The ISO is a federation of non-governmental organizations established in 1947 to develop international standards, improve international communication and collaboration, and facilitate the exchange of goods and services. The federation is currently comprised of close to 100 national standards bodies (member bodies) from countries representing approximately 95 percent of the world’s industrial production.

The headquarters of the ISO secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland.2 The ISO’s involvement in establishing environmental standardsbegan in 1991 after organizers for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992) asked whether or not ISO would be attending the conference and whether it was involved in any environmental activities. As a result, the ISO established a Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment (SAGE) in 1991 to assess the need for international environmental management standards.3 SAGE recommended that ISO proceed with an environmental standard by 1992 and that a technical committee be established to carry it through. On June 1, 1993, ISO’s Technical Committee 207 (TC 207) held its first plenary meeting.

TC 207 was directed to establish environmental standards in five areas of environmental management:
- environmental management systems; environmental auditing and related
- environmental investigation; environmental labeling; environmental performance evaluation; and life-cycle assessment.

Consequently, TC 207 was divided into five subcommittees (SCs) for each category of standard and one SC to cover the terms and definitions of the standards. In addition, a working group, which reports directly to TC 207, was formed to deal with the environmental aspects in product standards. The five SCs have two or more working groups (WGs) that report to them (unlike the WG on product standards previously mentioned which reports directly to TC 207).

The key factor that has propelled the ISO 14000 series of standards forward throughout the early 1990s is the increase in national environmental standards. Examples of these standards include some two dozen eco-labeling schemes worldwide (see Annex 1), the British Standards Institute’s BS 7750 (Specification for Environmental Management Systems), the Canadian Standards Association’s Z750 (A Guide for a Voluntary Environmental Management System), and the EU EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). Other similar environmental management standards have been developed by the French Standards Association, the South African Bureau of Standards and the Spanish Standards Association.

With the proliferation of environmental standards, concerns have been expressed that these standards would fragment international markets and unduly favor the companies of the countries or of the regions where these standards were developed, unless they were developed by authoritative and broadly based international bodies. The ISO was to serve this role.

Identification of environmental aspects and impacts

An organization’s policy, objectives and targets should be based on knowledge about the environmental aspects
and significant environmental impacts associated with its activities, products or services. This can ensure that the
significant environmental impacts associated with these aspects are taken into account in setting the environmental
objectives. The relation between environmental aspects and impacts is one of cause and effect. An environmental
aspect refers to an element of an organization’s activity, which can have a beneficial or adverse effect on the
environment. For example, it could involve a discharge, an emission, consumption or reuse of a material, or
noise. An impact refers to the change which takes place in the environment as a result of the aspect. Examples of
impacts might include contamination of water or depletion of a natural resource.

The identification of environmental aspects and the evaluation of environmental impacts is a process that can be
dealt with in four steps:

Step 1: Select an activity or process. (The selected activity or process should be large enough for meaningful
examination and small enough to be sufficiently understood.)

Step 2: Identify environmental aspects of the activity product or service. (Identify as many environmental aspects
as possible associated with the selected activity or process.)

Step 3: Identify environmental impacts. (Identify as many actual and potential, positive and negative,
environmental impacts as possible associated with each identified aspect.)

Implementing ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard that provides a framework for a strategic approach to corporate environmental management. This standard gives organisations the means to identify and control their environmental impacts, improve performance and achieve their objectives and targets. The standard is independently audited, giving it great strength and integrity.

Due to its widespread adoption (e.g. Barclays, Credit Suisse and UBS in the financial sector), it now acts as a common reference for communication about environmental issues. ISO 14001 provides assurance to stakeholders on environmental claims and helps organisations meet requirements laid down by clients and investors.

Adoption of ISO 14001 is being driven by stakeholder concerns as well as the significant benefits on offer to adopters. Few companies are now exempt from government, client and investor demands for accountability and improved environmental performance. With brand and reputation on the line, it is a risky strategy to ignore these concerns.

However, choosing how to act is not a straightforward decision. Companies that rushed to announce their green credentials without independent verification and transparency fell foul of greenwash accusations and suffered perhaps more damage to their reputation than had they not acted in the first place. In response to this, many companies are now choosing to implement internationally recognised and independently audited environmental management systems such as ISO 14001.

The benefits of implementing ISO 14001 are extensive:

It immediately enhances corporate reputation and sends a clear signal of commitment to corporate responsibility. Accusations of greenwash are prevented by the transparent and robust approach of the standard.

Proactive environmental management increases attractiveness to investors, especially for Socially Responsible Investment (SRI), an area already accounting for £9 billion investment per year in the UK alone.

ISO 14001 accreditation may also bring financial benefits through increased market share. Firms can differentiate themselves from competitors as responsible companies as well as securing the rewards of first mover advantage in new markets. In addition, many buyers are now implementing sustainable procurement codes and stipulating conditions in Requests for Information (RFIs) where suppliers are required to have environmental credentials. Gaining ISO 14001 accreditation ensures access to environmentally demanding but high reward markets.

Financial benefits are not limited to increased investment and sales. Implementation of an EMS may produce significant cost savings that actually negate the initial outlay. With energy and waste prices rising sharply, environmental responsibility can produce a win:win opportunity.

Perhaps the most significant benefit for many will be the positive effect on attracting and retaining staff. With intense competition for the best staff, corporate responsibility is becoming a key criterion against which employers are judged.

Finally, responsible environmental management is quickly becoming a necessary condition for business, a socially accepted norm of behaviour. Those who fail to follow these norms risk damage to their reputation and the possibility of their social licence to operate being revoked.

A standard as thorough and robust as ISO 14001 has an equally thorough implementation process with extensive requirements for procedures and auditable document trails. Implementation follows the Plan-Do-Check-Review cycle and key required procedures are detailed in the diagram below. Implementation will entail the creation of at least 20 procedures and supporting documents. The procedures are all company-specific and must be tailored to suit individual operations. It is this level of detail that gives the standard such strength and integrity.

ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

ISO 14001 was first published in 1996 and specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization has control and over which it can be expected to have an influence.

ISO 14001 is often seen as the corner stone standard of the ISO 14000 series. However, it is not only the most well known, but is the only ISO 14000 standard against which it is currently possible to be certified by an external certification authority. Having stated this, it does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

This standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

- implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system
- assure itself of its conformance with its own stated environmental policy (those policy commitments of course must be made)
- demonstrate conformance
- ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations
- seek certification of its environmental management system by an external third party organization
- make a self-determination of conformance

ISO 14001 was first published in 1996 and specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization has control and over which it can be expected to have an influence.

ISO 14001 is often seen as the corner stone standard of the ISO 14000 series. However, it is not only the most well known, but is the only ISO 14000 standard against which it is currently possible to be certified by an external certification authority. Having stated this, it does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

This standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

- implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system
- assure itself of its conformance with its own stated environmental policy (those policy commitments of course must be made)
- demonstrate conformance
- ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations
- seek certification of its environmental management system by an external third party organization
- make a self-determination of conformance

ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AUDIT

In order to be in conformance with this provision of ISO 14001 an organization must be able to answer the overall question: “How does the organization conduct environmental audits of the EMS?”. In order to answer that question four specific tasks must be addressed under the Management System Audit section of the standard.

First, the organization must develop a program and related procedures that define an audit plan of the environmental management system. In addition the program must define frequency of the audit process. Second, the procedures must specify the methodology of the audit process, including the qualifications of the auditors. Third, the audit reports must be submitted to top management. Fourth, the audit reports must provide recommendations directed at correcting any reported nonconformance that was discovered in the audit process.

The audit process discussed in this section of the standard is directed at internal audits. The standard is silent on the frequency issue. Generally accepted practice with a mature ISO 14001 system is a total audit of the system once a year. In the implementation phase of an environmental management system a more frequent audit process might be appropriate. In addition any part of the environmental management system that has been previously determined to be in nonconformance should be audited with an increased frequency. The methodology of the audit process required by the standard requires two distinct steps:

A. determine whether the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, and
B. that the system has been managed as described in the Environmental Policy statement, the Environmental Objectives and Targets, and the related work descriptions and procedures.

It is critical that an audit report that relates a nonconformance be forwarded to top management promptly. The internal audit staff must be competent with respect to the requirements of ISO 14001.

ISO 14001 Standard

ISO 14001 Standard – Environment Management System

Business benefits of ISO 14000

Business Benefits Of ISO 14001

Any manager will try to avoid pollution that could cost the company a fine for infringing environmental legislation. But better managers will agree that doing only just enough to keep the company out of trouble with government inspectors is a rather weak and reactive approach to business in today’s increasingly environment-conscious world.

There is a better way. The ISO 14000 way. The ISO 14000 standards are practical tools for the manager who is not satisfied with mere compliance with legislation – which may be perceived as a cost of doing business. They’re for the proactive manager with the breadth of vision to understand that implementing a strategic approach can bring return on investment in environmentrelated measures. Implementing an ISO 14000-based
environmental management system, and using other tools from the ISO 14000 family, will give you far more than just confidence that you are compBusiness Benefits Of ISO 14001 lying with legislation.

The ISO 14000 approach forces you to take a hard look at all areas where your business has an environmental impact. And this systematic approach can lead to benefits like the following:

a. Reduced cost of waste management
b. Savings in consumption of energy and materials
c. Lower distribution costs
d. Improved corporate image among regulators, customers and the public
e. Framework for continuous improvement of your environmental performance.

The manager who is “too busy managing the business” to listen to good sense
about environmental management could actually be costing the business plenty. Just think, for example, of the lost opportunities for achieving benefits like those above.

The ISO 14000 standards are management tools that will help your business
achieve environmental goals that go way beyond acquiring a mere “green sheen”.

ISO 14001 Standards Certification

Certification means that a qualified body (an “accredited certifier”) has inspected the EMS system that has been put in place and has made a formal declaration that the system is consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001.

The standard allows for “self-certification,” a declaration by an enterprise that it conforms to ISO 14001. There is considerable skepticism as to whether this approach would be widely accepted, especially when certification has legal or commercial consequences. At the same time, obtaining certification can entail significant costs, and there are issues relating to the international acceptance

of national certification that may make it particularly difficult for companies in some countries to achieve credible certification at a reasonable cost. For firms concerned about having certification that carries real credibility, the costs of bringing in international auditors are typically quite high, partly because the number of internationally recognized firms of certifiers is limited at present.2

The issue of accreditation of certifiers is becoming increasingly important as the demand increases.

Countries that have adopted ISO 14001 as a national standard can accredit qualified companies as certifiers, and this will satisfy national legal or contractual requirements. However, the fundamental purpose of ISO is to achieve consistency internationally. If certificates from certain countries or agencies are not fully accepted or are regarded as “second class,” the goal will not have been achieved. It is probable that the international marketplace will eventually put a

real commercial value on high-quality certificates, but this level of sophistication and discrimination has not yet been achieved. It is essential to the ultimate success of the whole system that there be a mechanism to ensure that certification in any one country has credibility and acceptability elsewhere.

The ISO has outlined procedures for accreditation and certification (Guides 61 and 62), and a formal body, QSAR, has been established to operationalize the process. At the same time, a number of established national accreditation bodies

heavily involved in ISO have set up the informal International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to examine mechanisms for achieving international reciprocity through multilateral agreements (MLAs). However, these systems are in the early

stages, and many enterprises continue to use the established international certifiers, even at additional cost, because of lack of confidence in the acceptability of local certifiers.

Given the variability in the design of individual EMS and the substantial costs of the ISO 14000 certification process, there is a growing tendency for large companies that are implementing EMS approaches to pause before taking this

last step. After implementing an EMS and confirming that the enterprise is broadly in conformance with ISO 14001, it is becoming routine to carry out a “gap analysis” to determine exactly what further actions would be required to achieve

certification and to examine the benefits and costs of bringing in third-party certifiers.

ISO 14001 Standards Certification

ISO 14001 Standards sets out a system that can be audited and certified. In many cases, it is the issue of certification that is critical or controversial and is at the heart of the discussion about the trade implications.

Certification means that a qualified body (an “accredited certifier”) has inspected the EMS system that has been put in place and has made a formal declaration that the system is consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001 Standards.

The standard allows for “self-certification,” a declaration by an enterprise that it conforms to ISO 14001 Standards. There is considerable skepticism as to whether this approach would be widely accepted, especially when certification has legal or commercial consequences. At the same time, obtaining certification can entail significant costs, and there are issues relating to the international acceptance

of national certification that may make it particularly difficult for companies in some countries to achieve credible certification at a reasonable cost. For firms concerned about having certification that carries real credibility, the costs of bringing in international auditors are typically quite high, partly because the number of internationally recognized firms of certifiers is limited at present.2

The issue of accreditation of certifiers is becoming increasingly important as the demand increases.

Countries that have adopted ISO 14001 Standards as a national standard can accredit qualified companies as certifiers, and this will satisfy national legal or contractual requirements. However, the fundamental purpose of ISO is to achieve consistency internationally. If certificates from certain countries or agencies are not fully accepted or are regarded as “second class,” the goal will not have been achieved. It is probable that the international marketplace will eventually put a

real commercial value on high-quality certificates, but this level of sophistication and discrimination has not yet been achieved. It is essential to the ultimate success of the whole system that there be a mechanism to ensure that certification in any one country has credibility and acceptability elsewhere.

The ISO has outlined procedures for accreditation and certification (Guides 61 and 62), and a formal body, QSAR, has been established to operationalize the process. At the same time, a number of established national accreditation bodies

heavily involved in ISO have set up the informal International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to examine mechanisms for achieving international reciprocity through multilateral agreements (MLAs). However, these systems are in the early

stages, and many enterprises continue to use the established international certifiers, even at additional cost, because of lack of confidence in the acceptability of local certifiers.

Given the variability in the design of individual EMS and the substantial costs of the ISO 14000 certification process, there is a growing tendency for large companies that are implementing EMS approaches to pause before taking this

last step. After implementing an EMS and confirming that the enterprise is broadly in conformance with ISO 14001 Standards, it is becoming routine to carry out a “gap analysis” to determine exactly what further actions would be required to achieve

certification and to examine the benefits and costs of bringing in third-party certifiers.

Family Of ISO 14000 Standards

Family of ISO 14000 include standards as follows:

1. ISO 14001: Environmental management systems—Requirements with guidance for use.

2. ISO 14004: Environmental management systems—General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques.

3. ISO 14015: Environmental assessment of sites and organizations.

4. ISO 14020: Include series (14020 to 14025) Environmental labels and declarations.

5. ISO 14031: Environmental performance evaluation—Guidelines.

6. ISO 14040: Include series (14040 to 14049), Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, discusses pre-production planning and environment goal setting.

7. ISO 14050: Terms and definitions.

8. ISO 14062: Discusses making improvements to environmental impact goals.

9. ISO 14063: Environmental communication—Guidelines and examples

10. ISO 19011: which specifies one audit protocol for both 14000 and 9000 series standards together.

What is ISO 14000?

ISO 14000 is a series of international standards that have been developed to incorporate environmental aspects into business operations and product standards. ISO 14001 is a specific standard in the series for a management system that incorporates a set of interrelated elements designed to minimize an organization’s impact on the environment. Similar to the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS), ISO 14001 defines the implementation of anEnvironmental Management System (EMS). In addition, ISO14001 incorporates the QMS ISO 9001 management system philosophy, terminology, and requirement structure, providing system compatibility.

What Does ISO 14001 Require?

Originally issued in 1996 and later revised in 2004, the ISO 14001 EMS standard is intended to address the identification, evaluation, and continual improvement of an organization’s activities, products, or services that interact with the environment. The ISO 14001methodology is a systematic approach for continually improving environmental managementthrough identification and evaluation of aspects and impacts, development of objectives and measurable targets, implementation of programs, and on-going monitoring and review.

Implementing ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard that provides a framework for a strategic approach to corporate environmental management. This standard gives organisations the means to identify and control their environmental impacts, improve performance and achieve their objectives and targets. The standard is independently audited, giving it great strength and integrity.

Due to its widespread adoption (e.g. Barclays, Credit Suisse and UBS in the financial sector), it now acts as a common reference for communication about environmental issues. ISO 14001provides assurance to stakeholders on environmental claims and helps organisations meet requirements laid down by clients and investors.

Adoption of ISO 14001 is being driven by stakeholder concerns as well as the significant benefits on offer to adopters. Few companies are now exempt from government, client and investor demands for accountability and improved environmental performance. With brand and reputation on the line, it is a risky strategy to ignore these concerns.

However, choosing how to act is not a straightforward decision. Companies that rushed to announce their green credentials without independent verification and transparency fell foul of greenwash accusations and suffered perhaps more damage to their reputation than had they not acted in the first place. In response to this, many companies are now choosing to implement internationally recognised and independently audited environmental management systems such as ISO 14001.

The benefits of implementing ISO 14001 are extensive:

It immediately enhances corporate reputation and sends a clear signal of commitment to corporate responsibility. Accusations of greenwash are prevented by the transparent and robust approach of the standard.

Proactive environmental management increases attractiveness to investors, especially for Socially Responsible Investment (SRI), an area already accounting for £9 billion investment per year in the UK alone.

ISO 14001 accreditation may also bring financial benefits through increased market share. Firms can differentiate themselves from competitors as responsible companies as well as securing the rewards of first mover advantage in new markets. In addition, many buyers are now implementing sustainable procurement codes and stipulating conditions in Requests for Information (RFIs) where suppliers are required to have environmental credentials. Gaining ISO 14001 accreditation ensures access to environmentally demanding but high reward markets.

Financial benefits are not limited to increased investment and sales. Implementation of an EMSmay produce significant cost savings that actually negate the initial outlay. With energy and waste prices rising sharply, environmental responsibility can produce a win:win opportunity.

Perhaps the most significant benefit for many will be the positive effect on attracting and retaining staff. With intense competition for the best staff, corporate responsibility is becoming a key criterion against which employers are judged.

Finally, responsible environmental management is quickly becoming a necessary condition for business, a socially accepted norm of behaviour. Those who fail to follow these norms risk damage to their reputation and the possibility of their social licence to operate being revoked.

A standard as thorough and robust as ISO 14001 has an equally thorough implementation process with extensive requirements for procedures and auditable document trails. Implementation follows the Plan-Do-Check-Review cycle and key required procedures are detailed in the diagram below. Implementation will entail the creation of at least 20 procedures and supporting documents. The procedures are all company-specific and must be tailored to suit individual operations. It is this level of detail that gives the standard such strength and integrity.

ISO 14001 STANDARD

ISO 14001 is in fact a series of international standards on environmental management. It provides a framework for the development of an [url=htttp://www.iso9001store.com/]environmental management system[/url] and the supporting audit programme.

The ISO 14001 series emerged primarily as a result of the Uruguay round of the GATT negotiations and the Rio Summit on the Environment held in 1992. While GATT concentrates on the need to reduce non-tariff barriers to trade, the Rio Summit generated a commitment to protection of the environment across the world.

After the rapid acceptance of ISO 9000, and the increase of environmental standards around the world, the International Standards Organisation (ISO) assessed the need for internationalenvironmental management standards. They formed the Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment (SAGE) in 1991, to consider whether such standards could serve to:

Promote a common approach to environmental management similar to quality management;
Enhance organizations’ ability to attain and measure improvements in environmental performance; and
Facilitate trade and remove trade barriers.
In 1992, SAGE’s recommendations created a new committee, TC 207, for international environmental management standards. This committee and its sub-committees included representatives from industry, standards organizations, government and environmental organizations from many countries. What developed was a series of ISO14000 standardsdesigned to cover:

-environmental management systems
-environmental auditing
-environmental performance evaluation
-environmental labelling
-life-cycle assessment
-environmental aspects in product standards

ISO 14001 was first published as a standard in 1996 and it specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects over which an organization has control and where it can be expected to have an influence.

ISO 14001 is often seen as the corner-stone standard of the ISO 14000 series. It specifies a framework of control for an Environmental Management System and is the only ISO 14000 standard against which it is currently possible to be certified by an external certification body. However, it does not in itself state specific environmental performance criteria.

How ISO 14000 works

ISO 14001:2004 does not specify levels of environmental performance. If it specified levels of environmental performance, they would have to be specific to each business activity and this would require a specific EMS standard for each business. That is not the intention.

ISO has many other standards dealing with specific environmental issues. The intention of ISO 14001:2004 is to provide a framework for a holistic, strategic approach to the organization’s environmental policy, plans and actions.

ISO 14001:2004 gives the generic requirements for an environmental management system. The underlying philosophy is that whatever the organization’s activity, the requirements of an effective EMS are the same.

This has the effect of establishing a common reference for communicating about environmental management issues between organizations and their customers, regulators, the public and other stakeholders.

Because ISO 14001:2004 does not lay down levels of environmental performance, the standard can to be implemented by a wide variety of organizations, whatever their current level of environmental maturity. However, a commitment to compliance with applicable environmental legislation and regulations is required, along with a commitment to continual improvement – for which the EMS provides the framework.

The environment for a healthy business

Growing scrutiny toward industry’s effects on the environment has made conformance with ISO 14001:2004 – a voluntary, internationally recognized Environmental Management Systems(EMS) standard – more important than ever. As more companies pursue ISO 14001 certification to demonstrate environmental commitment to their customers, shareholders and government agencies, many are discovering the benefits of partnering with Intertek. As one of the first accredited certification bodies, Intertek offers expertise, experience and know-how that no one else can deliver.

Your certified EMS can help you reap the benefits of: Improved overall performance Your ISO 14001 certified EMS can help make your business more efficient and productive. Lower energy and raw materials use, reductions in waste and pollution, and mitigated risks of accidents and emergency situations translate into greater profitability and productivity. Expanded market access Your company’s environmental credibility and commitment to quality are established from day one.

It will take less time to demonstrate the effectiveness of your EMS and earn your prospective customers’ trust and confidence, and you’ll enjoy access to markets you might not otherwise penetrate. Improved corporate image Your certification demonstrates your company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, fostering improved relationships with the community, shareholders, and governmental and environmental organizations.

Enhanced competitiveness While helping you to operate more efficiently and profitably, your ISO 14001 certified EMS can instill additional confidence in shareholders, investors, insurers and your customers – making your business the clear choice in a highly competitive market. Plus, you can maximize your human and financial resources by using your existing Quality Management System (QMS) as a basis for your EMS, taking advantage of the synergies between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Five Steps to Implementing ISO 14001:2004

ISO 14001 provides a logical, common-sense approach for

businesses to adopt. To start it is recommended to carry out an

environmental review of the business and the Annex to the Standard

provides guidance on the approach required. The Standard then

requires a management system to be developed that addresses the

key environmental issues that were identified by the review as being

relevant to the business, through a rational programme of control and

continual improvement.

There are five key steps to ISO 14001 EMS implementation, and

subsequent operation which are clearly laid out in just three pages of

text.

The five key steps are:

1. Environmental Policy

2. Planning

3. Implementation and Operation

4. Checking and Corrective Action

5. Management Review

Step 1. Environmental Policy

The company or organisation must write an environmental policy

statement which is relevant to the business activities and approved by

top management. Their full commitment is essential if environmental

management is to work. The ISO 14001 Standard clearly sets out

what to cover in the policy. Often a one page document is sufficient.

Produce a first issue and expect to amend it several times before

assessment and registration as knowledge grows in the company.

Step 2. Planning

Plan what the EMS is to address.

Environmental aspects

First make lists of the environmental aspects (issues) that are relevant

to the business. The environmental review mentioned earlier should

provide most of this information and the Annex to ISO 14001 provides

guidance on the format for doing this.

Consider the inputs, outputs and processes/activities of the business in

relation to;

a) emissions to air

b) releases to water

c) waste management

d) contamination of land

e) use of raw materials and natural resources

f) other local environmental and community issues

Consider both site (direct) and offsite (ie. indirect) aspects that you

control or have influence over (such as suppliers) and in relation to

normal operations, shut-down and start-up conditions and reasonably

foreseeable and emergencies situations.

A simple written procedure is then required to determine which of the

aspects identified are really or probably significant (important) and

training needs, outline the key stages of the project and dates that will

lead to the target achievement).

Gradually apply environmental management programme thinking to

such things as the introduction of new products, new or improved

processes and other key activities of the business. In particular,

ensure existing projects become environmental management projects

where there is a significant environmental impact involved, so that the

EMS becomes company wide. This is a frequent oversight found

during ISO 14001 assessments. The EMS must cover the whole

business – like a net thrown over the whole business and for example

including such things as engineering and maintenance

Step 3. Implementation and Operation

Structure and responsibility

Appoint one or more people, depending on the size of the business, to

have authority and responsibility for implementing and maintaining the

EMS and provide sufficient resources. (It’s worth monitoring costs

carefully and benchmarking these against key consumption figures so

that improvements delivered by the EMS become apparent).

Training, awareness and competence

Implement a procedure to provide environmental training appropriate

to identified needs for management, the general workforce, project

teams and key plant operators. This can have far reaching benefits

on employee motivation. The workforce is usually very supportive of

moves to achieve genuine environmental improvement. Every

company has its share of cynics but even some of these can be won

over with time. Training will vary from a general briefing for the

workforce to detailed environmental auditor training.

Communication

Implement procedures to establish a system of internal and external

communication to receive environmental information and respond to it

and to circulate new information to people that need to know. This will

include: new legislation, information from suppliers, customers and

neighbours and communications both with employees and for

employees about progress with the EMS. This process can often

generate worthwhile ideas from employees themselves for future

environmental improvements.

Environmental management system documentation

The EMS itself needs to be documented with a manual, procedures

and work instructions but keep it brief and simple. The Standard

clearly states where procedures are required. Eleven system

procedures are required to maintain the EMS, plus operating work

instructions but if you already have ISO 9000, this will cover most of six

of the procedures required and a quality system can certainly be

expanded to cover ISO 14001 as well. Cross reference the EMS

manual to other environmental and quality documents to link the EMS

and to integrate it with existing business practices.

Operational control

Implement additional operating procedures (work instructions) to

control the identified significant (important) aspects of production

processes and other activities. Some of these will already exist but

may need a ‘bit of polish’. Don’t forget significant aspects that relate to

goods and services from suppliers and contractors.

Emergency preparedness and response

Implement procedures to address reasonably foreseeable

emergencies and to minimise their impact should they occur. (eg. Fire,

major spillages of hazardous materials, explosion risks etc.)

Step 4. Checking and Corrective Action

Monitoring and measurement

Implement procedures to monitor and measure the progress of

projects against the targets which have been set, the performance of

processes against the written criteria using calibrated equipment (verify

monitoring records) and regularly check (audit) the company’s

compliance with legislation that has been identified as relevant to your

business. The most effective way of doing this is through regular

progress meetings.

Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action

Implement procedures to enable appropriate corrective and

subsequent preventive action to be taken where breaches of the EMS

occur (eg. process control problems, delays in project process, noncompliance

with legislation, incidents etc.).

Records

Implement procedures to keep records generated by the

environmental management system. The Annex to the Standard

suggests those that are likely to be required.

Environmental management system audit

Implement a procedure to carry out audits of each part of the EMS and

company activities and operations to verify both compliance with the

EMS and with ISO 14001. Audit results must be reported to top

management . A typical audit cycle is one year but more critical

activities will require auditing more frequently.

Step 5. Management Review

At regular intervals (typically annual), top management must conduct

through meetings and record minutes of a review of the EMS, to

determine that it is still appropriate and effective or to make changes

where necessary. Top management will need to consider audit

results, project progress, changing circumstances and the requirement

of ISO 14001 for continual improvement, through setting and achieving

further environmental targets.

ISO 14001:2004 Standards Contents

ISO 14001:2004 Standards

ISO 14000 is a series of international standards on environmental management. It provides a framework for the development of an environmental management system and the supporting audit programme.

The main thrust for its development came as a result of the Rio Summit on the Environment held in 1992.

ISO 14000 is an Environmental Management System (EMS), which requires that an organization consider the environmental aspects of its products and services.

Iso14000 approach forces you to take a hard look at all areas of your business that has an environmental impact.

Iso14000 is the world’s first series of Internationally accepted Standards for Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Iso14000 elevates Environmental Management to a Strategic Level that can be applied to any organization, from any industry, anywhere in the world.

ISO 14000 is a series of voluntary standards and guideline reference documents.

The part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.

Iso14000 is the world’s first series of Internationally accepted Standards for Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Iso14000 elevates Environmental Management to a Strategic Level that can be applied to any organization, from any industry, anywhere in the world.

ISO 14000 is a series of voluntary standards and guideline reference documents.

The part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.

ISO 14000 is an Environmental Management System (EMS) who’s purpose is:

· A management commitment to pollution prevention.

· An understanding of the environmental impacts (reducing) of an organization’s activities.

A commitment (pollution prevention) to employees, neighbors and customers

ISO 14001 is the corner stone standard of the ISO 14000 series. It specifies a framework of control for an Environmental Management System against which an organization can be certified by a third party.

The environment cannot be protected by our convictions or goodwill alone. Efforts to protect the environment must be planned, coordinated and organized into a system, such as ISO 14001.

ISO14001 requires an Environmental Policy to be in existence within the organisation, fully supported by senior management, and outlining the policies of the company, not only to the staff but to the public. The policy needs to clarify compliance with Environmental Legislation that may effect the organization and stress a commitment to continuous improvement. Emphasis has been placed on policy as this provides the direction for the remainder of the Management System.

Those companies who have witnessed ISO9000 Assessments will know that the policy is frequently discussed during the assessment, many staff are asked if they understand or are aware of the policy, and any problems associated with the policy are seldom serious. The Environmental Policy is different, this provides the initial foundation and direction for the Management System and will be more stringently reviewed than a similar ISO9000 policy. The statement must be publicised in non-technical language so that it can be understood by the majority of readers. It should relate to the sites within the organisation encompassed by the Management System, it should provide an overview of the company’s activities on the site and a description of those activities. A clear picture of the company’s operations.

The preparatory review and definition of the organization’s environmental effects is not part of a ISO14001 Assessment, however examination of this data will provide an external audit with a wealth of information on the methods adopted by the company. The preparatory review itself should be comprehensive in consideration of input processes and output at the site. This review should be designed to identify all relevant environmental aspects that may arise from existence on the site. These may relate to current operations, they may relate to future, perhaps even unplanned future activities, and they will certainly relate to the activities performed on site in the past (i.e. contamination of land).

The initial or preparatory review will also include a wide-ranging consideration of the legislation which may effect the site, whether it is currently being complied with, and perhaps even whether copies of the legislation are available. Many of the environmental assessments undertaken already have highlighted that companies are often unaware of ALL of the legislation that affects them, and being unaware, are often not meeting the requirements of that legislation.

The company will declare its primary environmental objectives, those that can have most environmental impact. In order to gain most benefit these will become the primary areas of consideration within the improvement process, and the company’s environmental program. The program will be the plan to achieve specific goals or targets along the route to a specific goal and describe the means to reach those objectives such that they are real and achievable. The Environmental Management System provides further detail on the environmental program. The EMS establishes procedures, work instructions and controls to ensure that implementation of the policy and achievement of the targets can become a reality. Communication is a vital factor, enabling people in the organisation to be aware of their responsibilities, aware of the objectives of the scheme, and able to contribute to its success.

As with ISO9000 the Environmental Management System requires a planned comprehensive periodic audit of the Environmental Management System to ensure that it is effective in operation, is meeting specified goals, and the system continues to perform in accordance with relevant regulations and standards. The audits are designed to provide additional information in order to exercise effective management of the system, providing information on practices which differ to the current procedures or offer an opportunity for improvement.

In addition to audit, there is a requirement for Management Review of the system to ensure that it is suitable (for the organization and the objectives) and effective in operation. The management review is the ideal forum to make decisions on howe to improve for the future.

The newly revised ISO 14001:2004 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system (EMS), which provides a framework for an organization to control the environmental impacts of its activities, products and services, and to continually improve its environmental performance. It applies to those environmental aspects which the organization can control and over which it can be expected to have an influence. It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria. ISO 14001:2004 is applicable to any organization that wishes to:

· implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system

· assure itself of its conformance with its stated environmental policy

· demonstrate such conformance to others

· seek certification/registration of its environmental management system by an external organization

· make a self-determination and self-declaration of conformance with this international standard.

All the requirements in this standard can be incorporated into any environmental management system. Having been revised, the improved ISO 14001 is now expected to bring the benefits of implementing an EMS to more businesses than ever. The standard is now easier to understand and use and has more detailed checklists for inputs and outputs from the management review and has increased compatibility to ISO 9001. Organizations who are currently registered to ISO 14001:1996 will have an 18-month transition period to register to ISO 14001:2004.

ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS

ISO 14001 Environmental Aspects And Impacts

The fundamental purpose of the EMS is to control and reduce the environmental impacts of your facility’s processes and products. For this reason, a critical element of the EMS involves identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts associated with your facility. An environmental aspect is an element of an organizations activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. For example, chrome plating is a metal finishing activity and an associated aspect is chrome air emissions.
This aspect may have an impact on the environment in several ways, for example, ambient air quality degradation.
The environmental aspects and impacts of your metal finishing operations can be identified, prioritized, and documented in several ways. This Template includes two approaches, either of which can be used during EMS implementation. Use the approach that works best for your circumstances. This process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established.

Aspects and Impacts Form A — The first approach uses the experience and judgment of
employees familiar with facility processes to identify the top five environmental issues
currently facing the facility. These issues and their specific aspects and impacts should
be summarized using Aspects and Impacts Form A.

Aspects and Impacts Form B — The second approach uses detailed, structured matrices
to list and prioritize environmental aspects and impacts according to the following
categories:
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Wastewater
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Air Emissions
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Hazardous and Solid Waste
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Raw Materials
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts: Water and Energy

The matrices that comprise Form B will help facility staff identify and document environmental aspects and impacts. The matrices also provide criteria for prioritizing environmental aspects and impacts; this process is important because high-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental objectives and targets are established. One possible way to prioritize environmental aspects and impacts using Form B is described as follows:
Step 1:
For each aspect and impact, score each prioritization criterion on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the criterion is very important or relevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is strictly regulated, is the subject of compliance violations, or is a waste generated in large uantities), and 5 indicates the criterion is relatively unimportant or irrelevant to that aspect (for example, the aspect is an unregulated waste, is generated infrequently, and is inexpensive to manage).
Step 2:
Add the scores of all criteria for each aspect and write the total in the right-most column of the form.
This number indicates the relative priority of the aspect compared to other aspects and impacts in the same category. The lower the total score, the higher the priority.
Purpose Of This procedure is used to identify, document, and update the environmental aspects and impacts of facility processes and operations.

Step 1 The environmental manager and other facility personnel selected by the environmental manager are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the environmental aspects and impacts of facility operations during EMS planning and development.
Environmental aspects are characteristics of facility processes and products that interact with the environment. Only environmental aspects the company can control or influence will be considered. Environmental impacts are the effects of an organization’s activitie , products or services on the environment.

Step 2 Environmental aspects and impacts will be documented and prioritized.
Environmental aspects and impacts will be associated with the following categories:
• Wastewater
• Air emissions
• Hazardous and solid waste
• Raw materials
• Water and energy
High-priority environmental aspects and impacts will be considered when environmental
objectives and targets are set.

Step 3 The environmental manager and other facility personnel will review and update
the environmental aspects and impacts documentation annually.

Step 4 Environmental aspects and impacts documentation will be retained at the facility
for at least 2 years.

Responsible Person: _____________________________________
Signature and Date: ______________________________________

ISO 14001 – Specifications With Guidance for Use

ISO 14001 – Specifications with Guidance For Use

Given the number of international participants involved in the process of developing the ISO 14001 Specifications, it is amazingly brief, consisting of five pages. This includes a Scope, Definitions, and EMS requirements.

The heart of the specification is in the EMS Requirements, the principles of which are summarized below:

Principle #1 – Commitment and Policy Top management must make a commitment to the program.

Principle #2 – Planning To be successful, the program must be organized. This includes an organizational structure, open communications, both internal and external, and a mechanism for identifying issues.

Principle #3 Implementation Program must be undertaken, including training, writing process descriptions, and establishing prevention programs.

Principle #4 Measurement and Evaluation Create a mechanism for assessing performance and progress toward goals.Principle #5 Review and Improvement? ISO 14004, Section 4, Environmental Management System (EMS)

Reference: ISO 14004, Section 4, Environmental Management System (EMS) Principles and Elements.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO ISO 14001:2004

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO ISO 14001:2004

ISO 14001:2004 aims to clarify the 1996 edition and align it more closely with the ISO 9001:2000 standard. Some clauses have not been modified for content but have been rewritten to align ISO 14001:2004 with the format, wording, and layout of ISO 9001:2000 and to enhance the compatibility between the two standards.

References in Annex A of the standard are aligned with the numbering in the standard for ease of use. Annex B of the standard identifies similarities and associations between ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004.

An important change in wording throughout the revised standard appears in requirements that previously stated that an organisation shall “establish and maintain”; these have now been changed to “establish, implement and maintain”.

Throughout the standard the word “personnel” in the original standard is replaced with “persons working for or on behalf of the organisation” in the revised standard. This is included to ensure that external contractors and applicable suppliers are included under the requirements of certain clauses.

In developing, implementing and maintaining the organisation’s EMS, significant environmental aspects, applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organisation subscribes must be considered, and management must ensure the availability of resources.

There are additional paragraphs in the introduction, which generally cover:

• the aim of the ISO 14001:2004 standard is to enhance compatibility with ISO 9001:2000;

• alignment is improved between clause references and supporting Annexes. For example, 4.3.3 and A.3.3 both deal with objectives, targets and programme(s), and 4.5.5 and A.5.5 both deal with internal audit;

• an explanation of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model used in ISO 9001:2000;

• the use of the process approach is promoted in alignment with ISO 9001:2000;

• possible alignment and integration with other management systems is reviewed.

Role of Governments in ISO 14001 Standards

Role of Governments in ISO 14001 Standards

Although ISO 14001 is a set of voluntary standards that individual companies may or may not choose to adopt, governments can clearly have a role in providing information, establishing the necessary framework and infrastructure, and, in some cases, helping companies to develop the
basic capabilities to adopt ISO 14001. There are wo particular areas in which government action would be useful:
(a) providing information on he sectors and markets where ISO 14001 certification s a significant issue and assisting sector rganizations to develop appropriate responses, and
(b) helping to establish a certification framework, ased on strengthening national standards organizations and encouraging competitive private sector provision of auditing and certification
services. At present, the World Bank is having discussions with a number of countries about how assistance could be provided with these issues.

Governments should see EMS approaches as part of a broad environmental strategy that includes regulatory systems, appropriate financial incentives, and encouragement of improved industrial performance. Such encouragement can really only be effective where there is cooperation at the government level between the relevant departments, including industry and trade, as well as environment. There is a growing interest in integrating environmental management issues into productivity or competitiveness centers designed to promote SME performance, but little information exists on experience to date.

ISO 14001 Standards – Complying with Environmental Laws and Regulations

One of the most commonly cited reasons for implementing an ISO 14001 environmental management system is that it helps an organization comply with environmental laws and regulations.

ISO 14001 registration will provide additional assurance to City Council, senior management, regulators and key stakeholders that appropriate procedures have been implemented to identify, track, and communicate environmental laws and regulations. ISO 14001 registration will also provide assurance that our Administration is controlling, monitoring, and improving performance, relative to these laws/regulations.

A strong environmental management system, aimed at legal/regulatory compliance, will serve the City of Edmonton by increasing the likelihood of avoiding convictions, fines and judgments; avoiding internal legal costs; and promoting positive relations with regulators.

ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AUDIT

In order to be in conformance with this provision of ISO 14001 an organization must be able to answer the overall question: “How does the organization conduct environmental audits of the EMS?”. In order to answer that question four specific tasks must be addressed under the Management System Audit section of the standard.

First, the organization must develop a program and related procedures that define an audit plan of the environmental management system. In addition the program must define frequency of the audit process. Second, the procedures must specify the methodology of the audit process, including the qualifications of the auditors. Third, the audit reports must be submitted to top management. Fourth, the audit reports must provide recommendations directed at correcting any reported nonconformance that was discovered in the audit process.

The audit process discussed in this section of the standard is directed at internal audits. The standard is silent on the frequency issue. Generally accepted practice with a mature ISO 14001system is a total audit of the system once a year. In the implementation phase of anenvironmental management system a more frequent audit process might be appropriate. In addition any part of the environmental management system that has been previously determined to be in nonconformance should be audited with an increased frequency. The methodology of the audit process required by the standard requires two distinct steps:

A. determine whether the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of ISO 14001, and
B. that the system has been managed as described in the Environmental Policy statement, the Environmental Objectives and Targets, and the related work descriptions and procedures.

It is critical that an audit report that relates a nonconformance be forwarded to top management promptly. The internal audit staff must be competent with respect to the requirements of ISO 14001.

What is a “document” In ISO 9001 Standard?

What is a “document” In ISO 9001 Standard?

The following are some of the main objectives of an organization’s documentation, independent of whether or not it has implemented a formal QMS;
a) Communication of Information as a tool for information transmission and communication. The type and extent of the documentation will depend on the nature of the organization’s products and processes, the degree of formality of communication systems and the level of communication skills within the organization, and the organizational culture.
b) Evidence of conformity provision of evidence that what was planned, has actually been done.
c) Knowledge sharing to disseminate and preserve the organization’s experiences. A typical example would be a technical specification, which can be used as a base for design and development of a new product.
A list of commonly used terms relating to documentation is presented in Annex A (taken fromISO 9000:2005). It must be stressed that, according to ISO 9001:2008 clause 4.2 Documentation requirements documents may be in any form or type of medium, and the definition of “document” in ISO 9000:2005 clause 3.7.2 gives the following examples:
paper
magnetic
electronic or optical computer disc
photograph
master sample

ISO 14001 Standards Certification

ISO 14001 Standards Certification

ISO 14001 sets out a system that can be audited and certified. In many cases, it is the issue of certification that is critical or controversial and is at the heart of the discussion about the trade implications.

Certification means that a qualified body (an “accredited certifier”) has inspected the EMS system that has been put in place and has made a formal declaration that the system is consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001.

The standard allows for “self-certification,” a declaration by an enterprise that it conforms to ISO 14001. There is considerable skepticism as to whether this approach would be widely accepted, especially when certification has legal or commercial consequences. At the same time, obtaining certification can entail significant costs, and there are issues relating to the international acceptance

of national certification that may make it particularly difficult for companies in some countries to achieve credible certification at a reasonable cost. For firms concerned about having certification that carries real credibility, the costs of bringing in international auditors are typically quite high, partly because the number of internationally recognized firms of certifiers is limited at present.2

The issue of accreditation of certifiers is becoming increasingly important as the demand increases.

Countries that have adopted ISO 14001 as a national standard can accredit qualified companies as certifiers, and this will satisfy national legal or contractual requirements. However, the fundamental purpose of ISO is to achieve consistency internationally. If certificates from certain countries or agencies are not fully accepted or are regarded as “second class,” the goal will not have been achieved. It is probable that the international marketplace will eventually put a

real commercial value on high-quality certificates, but this level of sophistication and discrimination has not yet been achieved. It is essential to the ultimate success of the whole system that there be a mechanism to ensure that certification in any one country has credibility and acceptability elsewhere.

The ISO has outlined procedures for accreditation and certification (Guides 61 and 62), and a formal body, QSAR, has been established to operationalize the process. At the same time, a number of established national accreditation bodies

heavily involved in ISO have set up the informal International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to examine mechanisms for achieving international reciprocity through multilateral agreements (MLAs). However, these systems are in the early

stages, and many enterprises continue to use the established international certifiers, even at additional cost, because of lack of confidence in the acceptability of local certifiers.

Given the variability in the design of individual EMS and the substantial costs of the ISO 14000 certification process, there is a growing tendency for large companies that are implementing EMS approaches to pause before taking this

last step. After implementing an EMS and confirming that the enterprise is broadly in conformance with ISO 14001, it is becoming routine to carry out a “gap analysis” to determine exactly what further actions would be required to achieve

certification and to examine the benefits and costs of bringing in third-party certifiers.

ISO 14001 Standards Certification

ISO 14001 Standards sets out a system that can be audited and certified. In many cases, it is the issue of certification that is critical or controversial and is at the heart of the discussion about the trade implications.

Certification means that a qualified body (an “accredited certifier”) has inspected the EMS system that has been put in place and has made a formal declaration that the system is consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001 Standards.

The standard allows for “self-certification,” a declaration by an enterprise that it conforms toISO 14001 Standards. There is considerable skepticism as to whether this approach would be widely accepted, especially when certification has legal or commercial consequences. At the same time, obtaining certification can entail significant costs, and there are issues relating to the international acceptance

of national certification that may make it particularly difficult for companies in some countries to achieve credible certification at a reasonable cost. For firms concerned about having certification that carries real credibility, the costs of bringing in international auditors are typically quite high, partly because the number of internationally recognized firms of certifiers is limited at present.2

The issue of accreditation of certifiers is becoming increasingly important as the demand increases.

Countries that have adopted ISO 14001 Standards as a national standard can accredit qualified companies as certifiers, and this will satisfy national legal or contractual requirements. However, the fundamental purpose of ISO is to achieve consistency internationally. If certificates from certain countries or agencies are not fully accepted or are regarded as “second class,” the goal will not have been achieved. It is probable that the international marketplace will eventually put a

real commercial value on high-quality certificates, but this level of sophistication and discrimination has not yet been achieved. It is essential to the ultimate success of the whole system that there be a mechanism to ensure that certification in any one country has credibility and acceptability elsewhere.

The ISO has outlined procedures for accreditation and certification (Guides 61 and 62), and a formal body, QSAR, has been established to operationalize the process. At the same time, a number of established national accreditation bodies

heavily involved in ISO have set up the informal International Accreditation Forum (IAF) to examine mechanisms for achieving international reciprocity through multilateral agreements (MLAs). However, these systems are in the early

stages, and many enterprises continue to use the established international certifiers, even at additional cost, because of lack of confidence in the acceptability of local certifiers.

Given the variability in the design of individual EMS and the substantial costs of the ISO 14000 certification process, there is a growing tendency for large companies that are implementing EMS approaches to pause before taking this

last step. After implementing an EMS and confirming that the enterprise is broadly in conformance with ISO 14001 Standards, it is becoming routine to carry out a “gap analysis” to determine exactly what further actions would be required to achieve

certification and to examine the benefits and costs of bringing in third-party certifiers.