Introduction
Since the earliest development of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) standards, accreditation has provided an important role in the integrity of third-party environmental management systems certification.
Increasingly, the importance of accredited EMS certification, both within the United Kingdom and internationally, is becoming a key criterion for a successful demonstration of an operational environmental management system to the marketplace.
These increasing demands of the marketplace for accredited environmental management systems has led to the development of accreditation criteria for ISO 14001:1996 and the European Union’s EMAS Directive and BS 8555:2003.
The UKAS EMS Policy Statement can be viewed here.
The Government position statement on Environmental Management Systems can be viewed here.
The Environment Agency's Position Statement on EMS can be viewed here.
UKAS welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of accredited environmental management systems certification. As one component of this communication role, this webpage provides information of the role and operation of its EMS Advisory Committee.
The Role Of The EMS Advisory Committee
The role of the Committee is to provide technical advice to UKAS on matters relating to the EMS (including the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Regulation - EMAS and BS 8555:2003) accreditation process and on the monitoring of its effectiveness.
Furthermore its purpose includes to:
The Chairman of EMSAC is appointed by the UKAS External Affairs Director for a three-year term and may be re-appointed for a further term or terms. He or she shall be independent from UKAS and the appointment must be approved by the EMSAC membership.
The members are invited by UKAS. They are selected on the basis of having the necessary technical knowledge and expertise to contribute to the work of EMSAC, and, when relevant, for their ability to act as representative of their organisation, sector or other interest. The Committee Members represent a range of EMS stakeholder interests including DEFRA, BERR, the Environment Agency, accredited certification bodies and industry representation. Membership is reviewed by UKAS in conjunction with the Chairman at least every three years. Members are required to exercise discretion in respect of information received in the course of their duties as EMSAC members and to treat as confidential any information so marked or related in confidence.
UKAS provides the Committee Secretary.
View the current membership.
Decisions on issues discussed by the EMSAC are reached by consensus, i.e. not by voting.
EMSAC meets as necessary when there are sufficient items or urgent items to justify a meeting. Provisional dates are normally set at the previous meeting and would typically be for annual or six monthly intervals, depending on the perceived need at the time.
EMSAC may establish sub-committees in order to undertake projects within its terms of reference in specific areas of EMS activity. The sub-committees may co-opt members from outside the EMSAC membership. EMSAC will select the Chairman of the sub-committees from within its membership and a UKAS staff member will act as secretary to each sub-committee.
At the invitation of the Chairman, and with the agreement of UKAS, other parties may attend meetings of EMSAC. On such occasions the minutes shall clearly state the affiliations of the invited participants.
Details of future meetings and summary documents from past meetings can be found here
Click here to view the IAF Task Force document