Implementation of EMAS
To be registered under EMAS, an organization must meet the following conditions: implement an environmental management system and prepare an environmental report. Both must be approved by an EMAS verifier.
Management system as the basis
EMAS uses the ISO 14001 standard as the basis for the environmental management system. In addition, EMAS has a number of extra requirements, which can be found in Annex I, II, and III. In summary, these are requirements for:
- Performing an environmental review
- Involving employees
- Compliance with laws and regulations
- Communication
- Conducting internal audits
- Continuous improvement
Management system roadmap
When implementing an environmental management system, the roadmap drawn up by SCCM for setting up a management system can be used. More background information can be found in the EMAS Users Guide.
Every three years, a new verified environmental report (called an EMAS environmental statement) must be prepared, and in the intervening years this can be limited to a verified update of the figures. The organization must submit and publish this with the competent body. For small organizations, a reduced reporting regime can be applied. Appendix IV of the EMAS Regulation sets out the requirements that the environmental report must meet.