(a)

the interested parties that are relevant to the environmental management system;

(b)

the relevant needs and expectations (i.e. requirements) of these interested parties;

(c)

which of these needs and expectations become its compliance obligations.

(a)

the external and internal issues referred to in A.4.1;

(b)

the compliance obligations referred to in A.4.2;

(c)

its organisational unit(s), function(s), and physical boundaries;

(d)

its activities, products and services;

(e)

its authority and ability to exercise control and influence.

(a)

taking accountability for the effectiveness of the environmental management system;

(b)

ensuring that the environmental policy and environmental objectives are established and are compatible with the strategic direction and the context of the organisation;

(c)

ensuring the integration of the environmental management system requirements into the organisation's business processes;

(d)

ensuring that the resources needed for the environmental management system are available;

(e)

communicating the importance of effective environmental management and of conforming to the environmental management system requirements;

(f)

ensuring that the environmental management system achieves its intended outcomes;

(g)

directing and supporting persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the environmental management system;

(h)

promoting continual improvement;

(i)

supporting other relevant management roles to demonstrate their leadership as it applies to their areas of responsibility.

Note:

Reference to ‘business’ in this International Standard can be interpreted broadly to mean those activities that are core to the purposes of the organisation's existence.

(a)

is appropriate to the purpose and context of the organisation, including the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and services;

(b)

provides a framework for setting environmental objectives;

(c)

includes a commitment to the protection of the environment, including prevention of pollution and other specific commitment(s) relevant to the context of the organisation;

(d)

includes a commitment to fulfil its compliance obligations;

(e)

includes a commitment to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance.

—

be maintained as documented information,

—

be communicated within the organisation,

—

be available to interested parties.

(a)

ensuring that the environmental management system conforms to the requirements of this International Standard;

(b)

reporting on the performance of the environmental management system, including environmental performance, to top management.

—

the issues referred to in 4.1,

—

the requirements referred to in 4.2,

—

the scope of its environmental management system; and determine the risks and opportunities, related to its:

—

other issues and requirements, identified in 4.1 and 4.2; that need to be addressed to:

—

risks and opportunities that need to be addressed,

—

processes needed in 6.1.1 to 6.1.4, to the extent necessary to have confidence they are carried out as planned.

(a)

change, including planned or new developments, and new or modified activities, products and services;

(b)

abnormal conditions and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations.

—

environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts,

—

criteria used to determine its significant environmental aspects,

—

significant environmental aspects.

Note:

Significant environmental aspects can result in risks and opportunities associated with either adverse environmental impacts (threats) or beneficial environmental impacts (opportunities).

(a)

determine and have access to the compliance obligations related to its environmental aspects;

(b)

determine how these compliance obligations apply to the organisation;

(c)

take these compliance obligations into account when establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving its environmental management system.

Note:

Compliance obligations can result in risks and opportunities to the organisation.

(a)

to take actions to address its:

(b)

how to:

(1)

they have identified, and know the implications to the organisation of all applicable legal requirements relating to the environment;

(2)

they ensure legal compliance with environmental legislation, including permits and permit limits and provide the appropriate evidence;

(3)

they have procedures in place that enable the organisation to ensure ongoing legal compliance with environmental legislation.

A.6.2

Environmental objectives and planning to achieve them

(a)

consistent with the environmental policy;

(b)

measurable (if practicable);

(c)

monitored;

(d)

communicated;

(e)

updated as appropriate.

(a)

what will be done;

(b)

what resources will be required;

(c)

who will be responsible;

(d)

when it will be completed;

(e)

how the results will be evaluated, including indicators for monitoring progress toward achievement of its measurable environmental objectives (see 9.1.1).

(a)

determine the necessary competence of person(s) doing work under its control that affects its environmental performance and its ability to fulfil its compliance obligations;

(b)

ensure that these persons are competent on the basis of appropriate education, training or experience;

(c)

determine training needs associated with its environmental aspects and its environmental management system;

(d)

where applicable, take actions to acquire the necessary competence, and evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken.

Note:

Applicable actions can include, for example, the provision of training to, the mentoring of, or the reassignment of currently employed persons; or the hiring or contracting of competent persons.

(1)

The organisation should acknowledge that active employee involvement is a driving force and a prerequisite for continuous and successful environmental improvements in addition to being a key resource in the improvement of environmental performance as well as the right method to anchor the environmental management and audit system in the organisation in a successful way.

(2)

‘Employee involvement’ should be understood as including both direct employee participation and the provision of information to employees and their representatives. Therefore, there should be an employee participation scheme at all levels. The organisation should acknowledge that demonstration of commitment, responsiveness and active support by the management is a prerequisite for the success of those processes. In this context management should provide appropriate feedback to employees.

(3)

In addition to the these requirements, employees or their representatives shall be involved in the process aimed at continually improve the organisation's environmental performance through:

(4)

Appropriate forms of participation such as the suggestion-book system or project-based group works or environmental committees should be used for this purpose. Organisations shall take note of Commission guidance on best practice in this field. Where they so request, any employee representatives shall also be involved.

(a)

the environmental policy;

(b)

the significant environmental aspects and related actual or potential environmental impacts associated with their work;

(c)

their contribution to the effectiveness of the environmental management system, including the benefits of enhanced environmental performance;

(d)

the implications of not conforming with the environmental management system requirements, including not fulfilling the organisation's compliance obligations.

(a)

on what it will communicate;

(b)

when to communicate;

(c)

with whom to communicate;

(d)

how to communicate.

—

take into account its compliance obligations;

—

ensure that environmental information communicated is consistent with information generated within the environmental management system, and is reliable.

(a)

internally communicate information relevant to the environmental management system among the various levels and functions of the organisation, including changes to the environmental management system, as appropriate;

(b)

ensure its communication process(es) enable(s) persons doing work under the organisation's control to contribute to continual improvement.

(1)

Organisations shall be able to demonstrate that they conduct an open dialogue with the public, the authorities and other interested parties including local communities and customers in relation to the environmental impact of their activities, products and services.

(2)

To ensure a high level of transparency and building confidence with interested parties, organisations registered under EMAS shall disclose specific environmental information as defined by Annex IV Environmental Reporting.

(a)

documented information required by this International Standard;

(b)

documented information determined by the organisation as being necessary for the effectiveness of the environmental management system.

Note:

The extent of documented information for an environmental management system can differ from one organisation to another due to:

(a)

identification and description (e.g. a title, date, author, or reference number);

(b)

format (e.g. language, software version, graphics) and media (e.g. paper, electronic);

(c)

review and approval for suitability and adequacy.

(a)

it is available and suitable for use, where and when it is needed;

(b)

it is adequately protected (e.g. from loss of confidentiality, improper use, or loss of integrity).

—

distribution, access, retrieval and use,

—

storage and preservation, including preservation of legibility,

—

control of changes (e.g. version control),

—

retention and disposition.

Note:

Access can imply a decision regarding the permission to view the documented information only, or the permission and authority to view and change the documented information.

—

establishing operating criteria for the process(es),

—

implementing control of the process(es), in accordance with the operating criteria.

Note:

Controls can include engineering controls and procedures. Controls can be implemented following a hierarchy (e.g. elimination, substitution, administrative) and can be used individually or in combination.

(a)

establish controls, as appropriate, to ensure that its environmental requirement(s) is (are) addressed in the design and development process for the product or service, considering each stage of its life cycle;

(b)

determine its environmental requirement(s) for the procurement of products and services, as appropriate;

(c)

communicate its relevant environmental requirement(s) to external providers, including contractors;

(d)

consider the need to provide information about potential significant environmental impacts;

(a)

prepare to respond by planning actions to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts from emergency situations;

(b)

respond to actual emergency situations;

(c)

take action to prevent or mitigate the consequences of emergency situations, appropriate to the magnitude of the emergency and the potential environmental impact;

(d)

periodically test the planned response actions, where practicable;

(e)

periodically review and revise the process(es) and planned response actions, in particular after the occurrence of emergency situations or tests;

(f)

provide relevant information and training related to emergency preparedness and response, as appropriate, to relevant interested parties, including persons working under its control.

(a)

what needs to be monitored and measured;

(b)

the methods for monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation, as applicable, to ensure valid results;

(c)

the criteria against which the organisation will evaluate its environmental performance, and appropriate indicators;

(d)

when the monitoring and measuring shall be performed;

(e)

when the results from monitoring and measurement shall be analysed and evaluated.

(a)

determine the frequency that compliance will be evaluated;

(b)

evaluate compliance and take action if needed;

(c)

maintain knowledge and understanding of its compliance status.

(a)

conforms to:

(b)

is effectively implemented and maintained.

(a)

define the audit criteria and scope for each audit;

(b)

select auditors and conduct audits to ensure objectivity and the impartiality of the audit process;

(c)

ensure that the results of the audits are reported to relevant management.

(a)

the status of actions from previous management reviews;

(b)

changes in:

(c)

the extent to which environmental objectives have been achieved;

(d)

information on the organisation's environmental performance, including trends in:

(e)

adequacy of resources;

(f)

relevant communication(s) from interested parties, including complaints;

(g)

opportunities for continual improvement.

—

conclusions on the continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the environmental management system;

—

decisions related to continual improvement opportunities;

—

decisions related to any need for changes to the environmental management system, including resources;

—

actions, if needed, when environmental objectives have not been achieved;

—

opportunities to improve integration of the environmental management system with other business processes, if needed;

—

any implications for the strategic direction of the organisation.

(a)

react to the nonconformity and, as applicable:

(b)

evaluate the need for action to eliminate the causes of the nonconformity, in order that it does not recur or occur elsewhere, by:

(c)

implement any action needed;

(d)

review the effectiveness of any corrective action taken;

(e)

make changes to the environmental management system, if necessary.

—

the nature of the nonconformities and any subsequent actions taken,

—

the results of any corrective action.