Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• ISO 9000 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• ISO 14000 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• METROLOGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
  
• ISO/IEC 17025 - COMPETENCE OF TESTING AND CALIBRATION LABS
  
• INTEGRATED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  
• STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC)
  

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Standards for environmental management systems

The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management. The very first two standards, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 deal with environmental management systems (EMS).
ISO 14001:2004 provides the requirements for an EMS and ISO 14004:2004 gives general EMS guidelines.

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What is an ISO 14001:2004-based EMS?

or services, and to improve its environmental performance continually. size or type to control the environmental impact of its activities, products these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved.
An environmental management system makes possible a structured approach to setting environmental objectives and targets, to achieving these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved.

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How does it work?

ISO 14001:2004 does not specify levels of environmental performance - so how, you ask yourself, can it improve things? Well, if it specified levels of environmental performance they would obviously have to be specific to your business activity - which would call for a specific EMS standard for each businesses. That's not the intention. ISO has many other standards dealing with specific environmental issues. The intention of ISO 14001:2004 is to provide a framework for an overall, strategic approach to your organization's environmental policy, plans and actions.
ISO 14001:2004 gives the generic requirements for an environmental management system. The underlying philosophy is that whatever your business, the requirements of an effective EMS are the same. This has the effect of establishing a common "language" or framework for communicating about environmental management issues between organizations and their customers, regulators, the public and other other stakeholders.
Another point is that because ISO 14001:2004 does not lay down levels of environmental performance, the standard can to be implemented by a wide variety of organizations, whatever their current level of environmental maturity. However, a commitment to compliance with applicable environmental legislation and regulations is required, along with a commitment to continuous improvement - for which the environmental management system provides the framework.

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What's in the EMS standards?

ISO 14004:2004 provides guidelines on the elements of an environmental management system and its implementation, and discusses principal issues involved.
ISO 14001:2004 specifies the requirements for such an environmental management system. Fulfilling these requirements demands objective evidence which can be audited to demonstrate that the environmental management system is operating effectively in conformance with the standard.

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What if my business implemented an ISO 14001:2004 EMS?

ISO 14001:2004 is a tool that can be used for internal purposes: to provide assurance to management that you are in control of your processes and activities having an impact on the environment. Employees, in turn, may be happier if assured that they are working for an environmentally responsible organization.
ISO 14001:2004 can also be used for external purposes: to provide assurance to stakeholders - such as customers, the community and regulatory agencies. Conformity to ISO 14001:2004 can be used to support what your organization claims about its own environmental policies, plans and actions. It is suitable for both suppliers' declarations of conformity, assessment of conformity by an external stakeholder - such as a business client - and for certification of conformity by an independent certification body.

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For more information, please contact Tadesse Solomon, I-QUAS Contact at: iquas@ethionet.et or (251-11) 662 3846 or (251-91) 161 3073, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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