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EMAS Verification and Validation Impressions from an Accreditation Body

EMAS Verification and Validation Impressions from an Accreditation Body. Marc WOUTERS BELAC EMAS Stakeholders Dialogue Brussels 04.10.2013. The views presented by the speaker are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of BELAC. For a member of general public or a customer?.

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EMAS Verification and Validation Impressions from an Accreditation Body

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  1. EMAS Verification and ValidationImpressions from an Accreditation Body Marc WOUTERSBELAC EMAS Stakeholders DialogueBrussels04.10.2013 The views presented by the speaker are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of BELAC

  2. For a member of general public or a customer? The EMAS logo is a formal promise The organizations bearing the EMAS logo, promise to : • Comply to all applicable environmental legislation; • Identify and control all environmental aspects; • Improve its environmental performance; and • Assume environmental and economic responsibility. How much confidence can we have in this promise ? Which feeling or sensation ? For an employee of the organization ? An commitment towards environmental awareness and sustainable way of doing business Com Milieuverificateurs

  3. The role of verification and validation in building confidence and the role of BELAC Com Milieuverificateurs

  4. Conformity assessment Early 1990’s : The EC adopts the “New approach” to promote the free movement of goods and services as the cornerstone of the single European market. • Prevent new barriers to trade (e.g. national legislation on product requirements, national technical standards …) • Establish harmonized technical requirements (EU Regulations, European standards …) • Establish mutual recognition: what is found conform in one member state is accepted as conform in another member state. Regulation (EC) 765/2008 on accreditation and market surveillance establishes a European framework for conformity assessment. Com Milieuverificateurs

  5. Conformity assessment (cont’d) Conformity assessment is the process for demonstrating that a product, a process, a service, a management system meets specified requirements. Third party conformity assessment versus self-declared conformity ! Essential requirements for a third party conformity assessment body (CAB): • Impartial (unbiased decisions, free of influences …) • Competent (able to detect risks for non-compliance and to detect system inconsistency …) • Reliable (governed by a well functioning and stable process, informed decision making …) BELAC , as the Belgian national accreditation body, monitors and attests the impartiality, competence and the reliability of conformity assessment bodies in Belgium. Third party conformity assessment provides the means for establishing confidence in compliance with expectations. Com Milieuverificateurs

  6. Conformity assessment and EMAS :Different roles, calling on different competences, expertise and attitudes. Com Milieuverificateurs

  7. GovernmentCompetent authority Third partyconformity assessment Policymaking BELAC(NAB) EMAS Requirements EMAS Verifier Regulator EMAS Registered site Economical operators Consumer, Customer … Com Milieuverificateurs

  8. GovernmentCompetent authority Third partyconformity assessment • Technical standardization • … Policymaking BELAC(NAB) EMAS Requirements EMAS Verifier • Macro-scale environmental impact analysis and modeling • Policy making, regulatory settings • Building public awareness • Promote preferred behavior • … Regulator EMAS Registered site Economical operators Consumer, Customer … Com Milieuverificateurs

  9. GovernmentCompetent authority Third partyconformity assessment Policymaking BELAC(NAB) EMAS Requirements EMAS Verifier Regulator • Compliance auditing • Compliance risk identification • Management system evaluation • Continuous improvement challenging • … EMAS Registered site Economical operators Consumer, Customer … Com Milieuverificateurs

  10. GovernmentCompetent authority Third partyconformity assessment Policymaking BELAC(NAB) EMAS Requirements EMAS Verifier Regulator EMAS Registered site Economical operators • Operational excellence • Environmental control • Risk management • Technical innovation • Stakeholders dialogue • Personnel relations • … Consumer, Customer … • Smart buyer • Environmental Awareness • … Com Milieuverificateurs

  11. Third party verification and validation provides the means for establishing confidence and credibility GovernmentCompetent authority Third partyconformity assessment Policymaking BELAC(NAB) EMAS Requirements EMAS Verifier Regulator The tasks of the EMAS verifier are clarified in § 2.4.2 of the EMAS users’ guide EMAS Registered site Economical operators Consumer, Customer … Com Milieuverificateurs

  12. EMASConfidence and credibility Com Milieuverificateurs

  13. Benefits of EMAS credibility • Public image of the company/organization • Public tolerance and acceptance • Competitive advantage in green procurement • Improved cooperation with authorities • Employee participation and satisfaction • … Threats to EMAS credibility • Incomplete scope of environmental management system (not all relevant environmental aspects or not all relevant sites are part of the controlled process ) • Incomplete, unclear, ambiguous, misleading environmental reporting • Lack of transparency to public and personnel • Budget pressure • Inadequate and inconclusive verification and validation Com Milieuverificateurs

  14. Benefits of EMAS credibility • Public image of the company/organization • Public tolerance and acceptance • Competitive advantage in green procurement • Improved cooperation with authorities • Employee participation and satisfaction • … BELAC(NAB) EMAS Verifier Threats to EMAS credibility EMAS Registered site BELAC wants to keep the pressure on an appropriate, justified and economically feasible level ! • Incomplete scope of environmental management system (not all relevant environmental aspects or not all relevant sites are part of the controlled process ) • Incomplete, unclear, ambiguous, misleading environmental reporting • Lack of transparency to public and personnel • Budget pressure • Inadequate and inconclusive verification and validation Com Milieuverificateurs

  15. For that reason, BELAC will continue to : • Watch over proper allocation of time and effort to verification and validation activities; • Defend a strict and conservative interpretation of terms like: • ‘Environmental aspect’ as an element of an organization’s activities that has or can havean impact on the environment; • ‘Site’ : a distinct geographic location under the management control of an organization covering activities, products and services, including all infrastructure, equipment and materials; a site is the smallest entity to be considered for registration; • ‘Employee involvement’ as a driving force and a prerequisite for continuous and successful environmental improvements Com Milieuverificateurs

  16. We all have a distinct role and part of responsibility in ensuring that the EMAS logo deliver on its promises ! Thank you Com Milieuverificateurs

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