ISO 14001/EMAS
The Environmental Management System according to ISO 14001 is based on the Quality Management System according to ISO 9001. The system model is also based on the principle of continuous improvement. The principles of ISO 14001 are also part of the requirements of the EMAS EcoManagement and Audit Scheme.
EMAS (EcoManagement and Audit Scheme) is an environmental certification scheme operating under the Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 of 28 August 2017 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/2026 of 19 December 2018.
Brief background
The first international standard for environmental management, BS 7750, was published in 1992. In 1993, the principles of the EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme were promulgated by EEC Council Regulation 1836/93. In 1996, ISO 14001 was also developed on the basis of BS 7750.
Legislation
By definition, environmental management systems (EMS) according to ISO 14001 and EMAS are voluntary systems, i.e. adopted voluntarily by organisations as an obligation to apply. Exceptions are Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Organisations, for which implementation and maintenance of ISO 14001 or EMAS is mandatory (based on Article 61(3) of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act).
The implementation of EMAS is also one of the ways in which the tasks of public sector bodies in the area of energy efficiency are carried out (on the basis of Article 6(1)(5) of the Energy Efficiency Act).
ISO 14001 and EMAS – for whom?
ISO 14001 and EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme are designed for all organisations, regardless of type and size. They can be applied in a variety of geographical, cultural and social settings. The implementation of other management systems is not required. They are applicable to any organisation that intends to:
- establish, implement and maintain the Environmental Management System
- comply with its environmental policy
- reduce negative impacts on the environment
- demonstrate compliance with EMS requirements through self-assessment and self-declaration and through third-party confirmation - including accredited certification bodies in the certification process
- build the image of a socially and environmentally responsible organisation
ISO 14001 and EMAS can be used on their own or combined with other management systems. They contain requirements that can be objectively audited and require the involvement of all services at all organisational levels, especially top management.
Companies applying for EMAS do not need to be ISO 14001 certified, but they must nevertheless implement the principles of the ISO 14001 environmental management system, which form part of the requirements of the EMAS regulation.
Both ISO 14001 and EMAS are based on the same assumptions. The idea behind both is to identify the environmental aspects existing in an organisation and the legal and other requirements that apply to these aspects. The primary task is to support the area of environmental management as well as pollution prevention in a way that takes into account socio-economic needs.
Implementation of an environmental management system based on the requirements of ISO 14001 can be considered a step towards EMAS registration. The main difference between EMAS and ISO 14001 is the obligation to publish an environmental statement and the approach to legal compliance.
- lower fees related to the use of environmental resources
- lower insurance rates due to reduced risk of environmental accidents
- reduced waste disposal costs
- reduced consumption of energy and raw materials due to utilisation of savings potential
- reduced risk of lawsuits related to environmental damage
- meeting customers' environmental requirements or additional points in tender procedures
- improved image through reduced environmental impact
- improved organisational management (planning, setting of objectives and targets and programmes)
- rapid detection of environmentally hazardous sites and processes through regular internal and external audits
- for energy-intensive businesses: the possibility of benefiting from excise duty exemptions for taxable activities involving coal or gas products for heating purposes
- ISO 14001 certification and EMAS registration are important marketing assets
The organisation should:
- implement and maintain an environmental management system
- identify not only direct but also indirect environmental aspects
- carry out regular audits
- conduct its activities in accordance with environmental legislation
- maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders
- publish information such as "Environmental Declaration"
EMAS is an EU instrument introduced by the Regulation (EC) 1221 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). Several key elements of the Regulation relating to the direct requirements for Organisations wishing to join EMAS have now changed. The changes result from the new edition of the environmental management system standard ISO 14001:2015 and are further described in Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 amending Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). The changes are also due to the amendment of the requirements for Annex IV 'Environmental Reporting' as described by Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/2026 of 19 December 2018 amending Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS).
- entry in a publicly accessible register
- increased credibility of the organisation thanks to the environmental declaration
- possibility of environmental benchmarking
- exemption from the registration fee at BDO (Database on Products, Packaging and Waste Management)
- for large companies: no obligation to carry out an energy audit of the company (subject to additional conditions)
- for public sector units: confirmation of the energy efficiency tasks to be carried out
Verification process
- Customer request for quotation
- Offer preparation
- Customer's order initiating the verification process
- Conclusion of a 3-year contract for EMAS supervision
- Stage I of verification and documentation assessment - assessment of Organization's readiness for Stage II
- Stage II of verification - audit and environmental verification carried out by an Accredited EMAS Environmental Verifier (TUV NORD Polska Sp. z o.o.) entered in the register kept by the Polish Centre for Accreditation - industry authorisation.
- Confirmation and validation of the environmental information presented for verification - issuance of an "Environmental Verifier's Declaration on verification and validation activities" according to Annex VII of the EMAS Regulation 1221/2009. The validated information and the environmental declaration are valid for 1 year. The moment at which the EMAS Accredited Environmental Verifier validates (validates) the organisation's environmental statements or environmental information presented for verification and validation is the reference point for setting the end of validity of the declaration. In order to meet the deadlines for updating the declaration, taking into account the time needed for possible corrective actions and evaluation of the documentation, verifications during the surveillance period should be carried out according to the rule: full years - 1 month, counting from the last day of on-site verification at the organisation's sites;
- Filing by the organisation of an application for registration with the General Directorate for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ)
- Assessment of the completeness and consistency of documents by GDOŚ
- Registration of the organisation in the national EMAS register, as well as in the EU EMAS register kept by the European Commission
Once registered, the organisation is entitled to use the EMAS logo, which can be used for general presentation of the organisation. Guidance on the use of the EMAS logo is provided in Annex V and Article 10 of the EMAS Regulation mentioned above.
EMAS verifications are carried out by an Accredited EMAS Environmental Verifier (TUV NORD Polska Sp. z o.o.) entered in the register kept by the Polish Centre for Accreditation - industry authorisation. Confirmed information and environmental declaration are valid for 1 year.
Information obligation
Each Customer, whose management system has been certified based on ISO 14001 / verified based on the EMAS regulation, is obliged to inform the Certification Body without delay of a serious incident related to the environmental impact of the Organisation, for example a serious environmental accident, a serious violation of a legal regulation, resulting in the involvement of a competent regulatory authority.
A Serious Environmental Incident is an event that causes harm to any of the components of the environment and/or harm to human health through the release into the environment of a pollutant, in particular a hazardous substance, requiring the deployment of significant forces and resources to remove the hazard.
Report incident: info@incydent.tuv-nord.pl
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