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Better environmental performance: Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)
Better environmental performance: Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)
Better environmental performance: Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)
It establishes the eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), which is a voluntary premium environmental management tool for all kinds of organisations that are willing to evaluate, report on and improve their environmental performance.
The EMAS registration process
To receive EMAS registration, an organisation must:
Validation
The environmental review, management system, audit procedure and statement must be approved by an accredited environmental verifier.
The validated statement is registered and made publicly available.
Use of the EMAS logo
An organisation successfully completing all these stages may use the EMAS logo on its letterheads and in reference to its activities and services, to demonstrate its commitment to improving its environmental performance.
European Commission decisions
The European Commission has adopted a series of decisions in relation to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009. They include:
The Commission has also adopted a further series of decisions on sectoral reference documents – concerning best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for:
Amendments to the legislation
Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 has been amended three times.
Repeal
Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 repeals Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC.
It has applied since 11 January 2010.
For more information, see:
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), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, pp. 1–45).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1533 of 24 July 2023 on the recognition of the requirements of the Ecoprofit environmental management system as complying with the corresponding requirements of the eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) in accordance with Article 45 of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 186, 25.7.2023, pp. 28–32).
Commission Decision (EU) 2023/2463 of 3 November 2023 on the publication of the user’s guide setting out the steps needed to participate in the EU eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2023) 720) (OJ L, 2023/2463, 10.11.2023).
Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2053 of 8 November 2021 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the fabricated metal products manufacturing sector for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 420, 25.11.2021, pp. 55–86).
Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2054 of 8 November 2021 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICT) services sector for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 420, 25.11.2021, pp. 87–122).
Commission Decision (EU) 2020/519 of 3 April 2020 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the waste management sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (OJ L 115, 14.4.2020, pp. 1–49).
Commission Decision (EU) 2019/61 of 19 December 2018 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the public administration sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (OJ L 17, 18.1.2019, pp. 1–57).
Commission Decision (EU) 2019/62 of 19 December 2018 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the car manufacturing sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (OJ L 17, 18.1.2019, pp. 58–93).
Commission Decision (EU) 2019/63 of 19 December 2018 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing sector under 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) (OJ L 17, 18.1.2019, pp. 94–123).
Commission Decision (EU) 2018/813 of 14 May 2018 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the agriculture sector under 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) (OJ L 145, 8.6.2018, pp. 1–64).
See consolidated version.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2286 of 6 December 2017 on the recognition of the requirements of the Eco-Lighthouse environmental management system as complying with the corresponding requirements of the eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) in accordance with Article 45 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 (notified under document C(2017) 8082) (OJ L 328, 12.12.2017, pp. 87–117).
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1508 of 28 August 2017 on the reference document on best environmental management practice, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the food and beverage manufacturing sector under 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) (OJ L 223, 30.8.2017, pp. 1–35).
Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1621 of 7 September 2016 adopting a guidance document on notification to accreditation and licensing bodies by environmental verifiers active in a Member State other than that where the accreditation or licence was granted under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 242, 9.9.2016, pp. 32–35).
Commission Decision (EU) 2016/611 of 15 April 2016 on the reference document on best environmental management practice, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the tourism sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (OJ L 104, 20.4.2016, pp. 27–69).
Commission Decision (EU) 2015/801 of 20 May 2015 on reference document on best environmental management practice, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the retail trade sector under 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) (OJ L 127, 22.5.2015, pp. 25–60).
Commission Decision 2011/832/EU of 7 December 2011 concerning a guide on EU corporate registration, third country and global registration under 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) (notified under document C(2011) 8896) (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, pp. 25–38).
last update 22.12.2023