ISO 14001

ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of an Environmental Management System. It has been written to be applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and to accomodate diverse geographical, social and cultural conditions. The success of the system depends on commitment from all levels and functions, especially from top management. A system of this kind enables an organisation to establish, and assess the effectiveness of, procedures to set an environmental policy and objectives, achieve conformance with them, and demonstrate conformance to others. The overall aim of ISO 14001 is to support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic needs.

There is an important distinction between ISO 14001 which describes the requirements for certification and/or self declaration of an organistion's environmental management system and a non-certifiable guideline intended to provide generic assistance to an organisation implementing or improving an environmental management system. Environmental management encompasses a full range of issues including those with strategic and competitive implications. Demonstration of ISO 14001 can be used by an organisation to assure interested parties that an appropriate environmental management system is in place.

ISO 14001 contains only those requirements that may be objectively audited for certification and/or self-declaration purposes. Those organisations requiring more general guidance on a broad range environmental management system issues should refer to ISO 14004.

It should be noted that ISO 14001 does not establish absolute requirements for envronmental performance beyond commitment, in the policy, to compliance with applicable legislation and regulations and to continual improvement. Thus, two organisations carrying out similar activies but having different environmental performance my both comply with its requirements.