EMAS

EMAS environmental verification and validation

EMAS is a scheme for environmental management and auditing. It is a voluntary European Union tool created for organizations to help assess, manage and improve their environmental performance. You can find more information about the EMAS scheme at www.emas.sk

The EMAS scheme is based on the ISO 14001 standard with several additional requirements. One of the requirements is the successful verification of the Environmental Statement and the environmental management system by an accredited environmental verifier.

QSCert is accredited environmental verifier (accreditation by SNAS).

The verification process and its stages

Preparation stage

QSCert will appoint a qualified audit team and agree with the client on the date of the audit.

Initial environmental verification – 1. stage

First stage of the EV is carried out to assess the documentation, the level of implementation of the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/2026 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) and the state of readiness for the 2nd stage of the EV.
At this stage, EMAS auditors review:

• the appropriateness of the processing of the Initial Environmental Review
• the processed documentation of the environmental management system
• the implementation of the planned internal audit programme
• the preparation of the Environmental Statement and consideration of reference documents for the relevant sector, if available

Initial environmental verification – 2. stage

Second stage, EMAS auditors review documentation, visit the organisation, carry out on-site inspections and interview staff. EMAS auditors verify compliance with all requirements regarding:

• reliability, trustworthiness and accuracy of the data and information provided in the Initial Environmental Review and the Environmental Statement
• implementation of a fully functional environmental management system
• implementation of the planned internal audit programme
• completion of the management review
• compliance with applicable Community legal requirements as well as national, regional and local legal requirements relating to the environment
• continuous improvement of the organisation’s environmental performance

The output document is the Environmental Verification Report. The report is drawn up by the lead auditor, who is also responsible for its completeness and accuracy

Decision on validation of the environmental statement and planning of the verification cycle

The Director of QSCert decides on the validation of the Environmental Statement or the Updated Environmental Statement. In case of a positive decision, the Director signs the “Environmental Verifier’s Statement on Verification and Validation”, which is valid for one year and at the same time signs the Environmental Statement prepared by the organization.

QSCert plans a verification cycle that ensures the verification of all elements required for registration and renewal of registration

Maintaining the validity of the environmental statement validation is carried out through:

• Surveillance environmental verifications
• Repeated environmental verification

Surveillance environmental verification (first and second)

Verification is carried out before the expiry of the Environmental Verifier’s Statement of Verification and Validation (at intervals not exceeding 12 months).

For the purpose of verification for the renewal of registration, EMAS auditors check that the organisation fulfils at least the following requirements:

• the organisation has carried out an internal audit of its environmental performance and compliance with applicable legal requirements relating to the environment
• the organisation demonstrates ongoing compliance with applicable legal requirements relating to the environment and continuous improvement of its environmental performance
• the organisation has prepared an updated environmental statement, taking into account reference documents for the relevant sector, if available.

The output document is the Environmental Verification Report, which is prepared by the EMAS Lead Auditor.

Subsequently, the QSCert Director decides on the validation of the Updated Environmental Statement (see description in Decision on validation of the Environmental Statement)

Repeated environmental verification

Verification is carried out before the expiry of the Environmental Verifier’s Statement of Verification and Validation (at intervals not exceeding 12 months).

For the purpose of verification for the renewal of registration, EMAS auditors check whether the organisation meets at least the following requirements:

• a fully functional environmental management system
• the organisation has a fully planned audit programme, with at least one audit cycle completed
• the organisation has carried out one management review
• the organisation has prepared the Environmental Statement and reference documents for the relevant sector have been taken into account, if available

The output document is the Environmental Verification Report, which is prepared by the EMAS Lead Auditor.

Subsequently, the QSCert Director decides on the validation of the Environmental Statement processed for the next 3 years (see description in Decision on validation of the Environmental Statement)

Extraordinary supervisory environmental verification

If the registered organization plans to implement significant changes, EMAS auditors will review:

• updated initial environmental review, revised environmental policy, environmental performance program, environmental management system focusing on changes including their environmental aspects and impacts, updated environmental statement.
• all revised and updated documents are verified and validated within six months.

The output document is the Environmental Verification Report, which is prepared by the EMAS lead auditor.

Subsequently, the QSCert Director decides on the validation of the Updated Environmental Statement (see description in Decision on validation of the Environmental Statement)

Procedure for submitting a complaint

Complaints against the activities of the certification body must be submitted in writing to the e-mail address qscert@qscert.sk or to the address of the certification body.

Based on the complaint review, QSCert will notify the complainant of how the complaint will be resolved, or of the steps that will be taken to investigate the complaint and the expected timeframe for doing so.

Appeal against the action of the QSCert certification body

If the QSCert environmental verifier determines that the organization does not meet all the requirements of the Regulation, the client is entitled to file an appeal against this decision on the Commission for the Protection of Impartiality within 30 days of receiving notification of such a decision. The appeal must be filed in writing. The exact procedure for filing an appeal is set forth in the Agreement.