EN ISO 14001:2004

SLOVENSKI SIST EN ISO 14001:2005

STANDARD
maj 2005
Sistemi ravnanja z okoljem – Zahteve z navodili za uporabo (ISO 14001:2004)
Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use (ISO
14001:2004)
ICS 13.020.10 Referenčna številka
©  Standard je založil in izdal Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje ali kopiranje celote ali delov tega dokumenta ni dovoljeno

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 14001
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2004
ICS 13.020.10 Supersedes EN ISO 14001:1996
English version
Environmental management systems - Requirements with
guidance for use (ISO 14001:2004)
Systèmes de management environnemental - Exigences et Umweltmanagementsysteme - Anforderungen mit
lignes directrices pour son utilisation (ISO 14001:2004) Anleitung zur Anwendung (ISO 14001:2004)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 13 November 2004.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2004 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14001:2004: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Foreword
This document (EN ISO 14001:2004) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207
"Environmental management" in collaboration with CMC.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2005, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by May 2005.

This document supersedes EN ISO 14001:1996.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of
the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14001:2004 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 14001:2004 without any
modifications.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14001
Second edition
2004-11-15
Environmental management systems —
Requirements with guidance for use
Systèmes de management environnemental — Exigences et lignes
directrices pour son utilisation

Reference number
ISO 14001:2004(E)
©
ISO 2004
ISO 14001:2004(E)
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
Contents Page
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Environmental management system requirements . 4
4.1 General requirements . 4
4.2 Environmental policy . 4
4.3 Planning . 4
4.4 Implementation and operation . 5
4.5 Checking . 7
4.6 Management review . 9
Annex A (informative) Guidance on the use of this International Standard . 10
Annex B (informative) Correspondence between ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2000 . 19
Bibliography . 23
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 14001 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, Subcommittee
SC 1, Environmental management systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14001:1996), which has been technically
revised.
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
Introduction
Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound environmental
performance by controlling the impacts of their activities, products and services on the environment, consistent
with their environmental policy and objectives. They do so in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the
development of economic policies and other measures that foster environmental protection, and increased
concern expressed by interested parties about environmental matters and sustainable development.
Many organizations have undertaken environmental “reviews” or “audits” to assess their environmental
performance. On their own, however, these “reviews” and “audits” may not be sufficient to provide an
organization with the assurance that its performance not only meets, but will continue to meet, its legal and
policy requirements. To be effective, they need to be conducted within a structured management system that is
integrated within the organization.
International Standards covering environmental management are intended to provide organizations with the
elements of an effective environmental management system (EMS) that can be integrated with other
management requirements and help organizations achieve environmental and economic goals. These
standards, like other International Standards, are not intended to be used to create non-tariff trade barriers or to
increase or change an organization's legal obligations.
This International Standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an
organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and
information about significant environmental aspects. It is intended to apply to all types and sizes of organization
and to accommodate diverse geographical, cultural and social conditions. The basis of the approach is shown
in Figure1. The success of the system depends on commitment from all levels and functions of the
organization, and especially from top management. A system of this kind enables an organization to develop an
environmental policy, establish objectives and processes to achieve the policy commitments, take action as
needed to improve its performance and demonstrate the conformity of the system to the requirements of this
International Standard. The overall aim of this International Standard is to support environmental protection and
prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic needs. It should be noted that many of the requirements
can be addressed concurrently or revisited at any time.
The second edition of this International Standard is focused on clarification of the first edition, and has taken
due consideration of the provisions of ISO 9001 to enhance the compatibility of the two standards for the benefit
of the user community.
For ease of use, the subclause numbers in Clause 4 of the body of this International Standard and in Annex A
have been related. For example, 4.3.3 and A.3.3 both deal with objectives, targets and programme(s), and 4.5.5
and A.5.5 both deal with internal audit. In addition, Annex B identifies broad technical correspondences
between ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2000 and vice versa.
There is an important distinction between this International Standard, which describes the requirements for an
organization's environmental management system and can be used for certification/registration and/or self-
declaration of an organization's environmental management system, and a non-certifiable guideline intended to
provide generic assistance to an organization for establishing, implementing or improving an environmental
management system. Environmental management encompasses a full range of issues, including those with
strategic and competitive implications. Demonstration of successful implementation of this International
Standard can be used by an organization to assure interested parties that an appropriate environmental
management system is in place.
Guidance on supporting environmental management techniques is contained in other International Standards,
particularly those on environmental management in the documents established by ISO/TC 207. Any reference
to other International Standards is for information only.
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
NOTE This International Standard is based on the methodology known as Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). PDCA can be
briefly described as follows.
— Plan: establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the organization's
environmental policy.
— Do: implement the processes.
— Check: monitor and measure processes against environmental policy, objectives, targets, legal and other
requirements, and report the results.
— Act: take actions to continually improve performance of the environmental management system.
Many organizations manage their operations via the application of a system of processes and their interactions, which can
be referred to as the “process approach”. ISO 9001 promotes the use of the process approach. Since PDCA can be
applied to all processes, the two methodologies are considered to be compatible.
Figure 1 — Environmental management system model for this International Standard
This International Standard contains only those requirements that can be objectively audited. Those
organizations requiring more general guidance on a broad range of environmental management system issues
are referred to ISO 14004.
This International Standard does not establish absolute requirements for environmental performance beyond
the commitments, in the environmental policy, to comply with applicable legal requirements and with other
requirements to which the organization subscribes, to prevention of pollution and to continual improvement.
Thus, two organizations carrying out similar operations but having different environmental performance can
both conform to its requirements.
The adoption and implementation of a range of environmental management techniques in a systematic manner
can contribute to optimal outcomes for all interested parties. However, adoption of this International Standard
will not in itself guarantee optimal environmental outcomes. In order to achieve environmental objectives, the
environmental management system can encourage organizations to consider implementation of the best
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
available techniques, where appropriate and where economically viable, and fully take into account the cost-
effectiveness of such techniques.
This International Standard does not include requirements specific to other management systems, such as
those for quality, occupational health and safety, financial or risk management, though its elements can be
aligned or integrated with those of other management systems. It is possible for an organization to adapt its
existing management system(s) in order to establish an environmental management system that conforms to
the requirements of this International Standard. It is pointed out, however, that the application of various
elements of the management system might differ depending on the intended purpose and the interested parties
involved.
The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system, the extent of documentation and
the resources devoted to it depend on a number of factors, such as the scope of the system, the size of an
organization and the nature of its activities, products and services. This may be the case in particular for small
and medium-sized enterprises.
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.
viii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14001:2004(E)
Environmental management systems — Requirements with
guidance for use
1Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an
organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and
other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental
aspects. It applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control
and those which it can influence. It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.
This International Standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to
a) establish, implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system,
b) assure itself of conformity with its stated environmental policy,
c) demonstrate conformity with this International Standard by
1) making a self-determination and self-declaration, or
2) seeking confirmation of its conformance by parties having an interest in the organization, such as
customers, or
3) seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the organization, or
4) seeking certification/registration of its environmental management system by an external organization.
All the requirements in this International Standard are intended to be incorporated into any environmental
management system. The extent of the application depends on factors such as the environmental policy of the
organization, the nature of its activities, products and services and the location where and the conditions in
which it functions. This International Standard also provides, in Annex A, informative guidance on its use.
2 Normative references
No normative references are cited. This clause is included in order to retain clause numbering identical with the
previous edition (ISO 14001:1996).
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
auditor
person with the competence to conduct an audit
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.9.9]
3.2
continual improvement
recurring process of enhancing the environmental management system (3.8) in order to achieve
improvements in overall environmental performance (3.10) consistent with the organization's (3.16)
environmental policy (3.11)
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
NOTE The process need not take place in all areas of activity simultaneously.
3.3
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.15)
3.4
document
information and its supporting medium
NOTE 1 The medium can be paper, magnetic, electronic or optical computer disc, photograph or master sample, or a
combination thereof.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.2.
3.5
environment
surroundings in which an organization (3.16) operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora,
fauna, humans, and their interrelation
NOTE Surroundings in this context extend from within an organization (3.16) to the global system.
3.6
environmental aspect
element of an organization's (3.16) activities or products or services that can interact with the environment
(3.5)
NOTE A significant environmental aspect has or can have a significant environmental impact (3.7).
3.7
environmental impact
any change to the environment (3.5), whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an
organization's (3.16) environmental aspects (3.6)
3.8
environmental management system
EMS
part of an organization's (3.16) management system used to develop and implement its environmental policy
(3.11) and manage its environmental aspects (3.6)
NOTE 1 A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy and objectives and to achieve
those objectives.
NOTE2 A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices,
procedures (3.19), processes and resources.
3.9
environmental objective
overall environmental goal, consistent with the environmental policy (3.11), that an organization (3.16) sets
itself to achieve
3.10
environmental performance
measurable results of an organization's (3.16) management of its environmental aspects (3.6)
NOTE In the context of environmental management systems (3.8), results can be measured against the organization's
(3.16) environmental policy (3.11), environmental objectives (3.9), environmental targets (3.12) and other
environmental performance requirements.
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3.11
environmental policy
overall intentions and direction of an organization (3.16) related to its environmental performance (3.10) as
formally expressed by top management
NOTE The environmental policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of environmental objectives (3.9) and
environmental targets (3.12).
3.12
environmental target
detailed performance requirement, applicable to the organization (3.16) or parts thereof, that arises from the
environmental objectives (3.9) and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve those objectives
3.13
interested party
person or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance (3.10) of an organization
(3.16)
3.14
internal audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to
determine the extent to which the environmental management system audit criteria set by the organization
(3.16) are fulfilled
NOTE In many cases, particularly in smaller organizations, independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from
responsibility for the activity being audited.
3.15
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement
[ISO 9000:2000, 3.6.2]
3.16
organization
company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether
incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration
NOTE For organizations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may be defined as an organization.
3.17
preventive action
action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity (3.15)
3.18
prevention of pollution
use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or energy to avoid, reduce or control
(separately or in combination) the creation, emission or discharge of any type of pollutant or waste, in order to
reduce adverse environmental impacts (3.7)
NOTE Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination, process, product or service changes, efficient
use of resources, material and energy substitution, reuse, recovery, recycling, reclamation and treatment.
3.19
procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process
NOTE 1 Procedures can be documented or not.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.4.5.
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3.20
record
document (3.4) stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed
NOTE Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.6.
4 Environmental management system requirements
4.1 General requirements
The organization shall establish, document, implement, maintain and continually improve an environmental
management system in accordance with the requirements of this International Standard and determine how it
will fulfil these requirements.
The organization shall define and document the scope of its environmental management system.
4.2 Environmental policy
Top management shall define the organization's environmental policy and ensure that, within the defined scope
of its environmental management system, it
a) is appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and services,
b) includes a commitment to continual improvement and prevention of pollution,
c) includes a commitment to comply with applicable legal requirements and with other requirements to which
the organization subscribes which relate to its environmental aspects,
d) provides the framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets,
e) is documented, implemented and maintained,
f) is communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization, and
g) is available to the public.
4.3 Planning
4.3.1 Environmental aspects
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s)
a) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services within the defined scope of the
environmental management system that it can control and those that it can influence taking into account
planned or new developments, or new or modified activities, products and services, and
b) to determine those aspects that have or can have significant impact(s) on the environment (i.e. significant
environmental aspects).
The organization shall document this information and keep it up to date.
The organization shall ensure that the significant environmental aspects are taken into account in establishing,
implementing and maintaining its environmental management system.
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4.3.2 Legal and other requirements
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s)
a) to identify and have access to the applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the
organization subscribes related to its environmental aspects, and
b) to determine how these requirements apply to its environmental aspects.
The organization shall ensure that these applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the
organization subscribes are taken into account in establishing, implementing and maintaining its environmental
management system.
4.3.3 Objectives, targets and programme(s)
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain documented environmental objectives and targets, at
relevant functions and levels within the organization.
The objectives and targets shall be measurable, where practicable, and consistent with the environmental
policy, including the commitments to prevention of pollution, to compliance with applicable legal requirements
and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and to continual improvement.
When establishing and reviewing its objectives and targets, an organization shall take into account the legal
requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and its significant environmental
aspects. It shall also consider its technological options, its financial, operational and business requirements,
and the views of interested parties.
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a programme(s) for achieving its objectives and
targets. Programme(s) shall include
a) designation of responsibility for achieving objectives and targets at relevant functions and levels of the
organization, and
b) the means and time-frame by which they are to be achieved.
4.4 Implementation and operation
4.4.1 Resources, roles, responsibility and authority
Management shall ensure the availability of resources essential to establish, implement, maintain and improve
the environmental management system. Resources include human resources and specialized skills,
organizational infrastructure, technology and financial resources.
Roles, responsibilities and authorities shall be defined, documented and communicated in order to facilitate
effective environmental management.
The organization's top management shall appoint a specific management representative(s) who, irrespective of
other responsibilities, shall have defined roles, responsibilities and authority for
a) ensuring that an environmental management system is established, implemented and maintained in
accordance with the requirements of this International Standard,
b) reporting to top management on the performance of the environmental management system for review,
including recommendations for improvement.
4.4.2 Competence, training and awareness
The organization shall ensure that any person(s) performing tasks for it or on its behalf that have the potential to
cause a significant environmental impact(s) identified by the organization is (are) competent on the basis of
appropriate education, training or experience, and shall retain associated records.
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
The organization shall identify training needs associated with its environmental aspects and its environmental
management system. It shall provide training or take other action to meet these needs, and shall retain
associated records.
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) to make persons working for it or on its
behalf aware of
a) the importance of conformity with the environmental policy and procedures and with the requirements of the
environmental management system,
b) the significant environmental aspects and related actual or potential impacts associated with their work, and
the environmental benefits of improved personal performance,
c) their roles and responsibilities in achieving conformity with the requirements of the environmental
management system, and
d) the potential consequences of departure from specified procedures.
4.4.3 Communication
With regard to its environmental aspects and environmental management system, the organization shall
establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) for
a) internal communication among the various levels and functions of the organization,
b) receiving, documenting and responding to relevant communication from external interested parties.
The organization shall decide whether to communicate externally about its significant environmental aspects,
and shall document its decision. If the decision is to communicate, the organization shall establish and
implement a method(s) for this external communication.
4.4.4 Documentation
The environmental management system documentation shall include
a) the environmental policy, objectives and targets,
b) description of the scope of the environmental management system,
c) description of the main elements of the environmental management system and their interaction, and
reference to related documents,
d) documents, including records, required by this International Standard, and
e) documents, including records, determined by the organization to be necessary to ensure the effective
planning, operation and control of processes that relate to its significant environmental aspects.
4.4.5 Control of documents
Documents required by the environmental management system and by this International Standard shall be
controlled. Records are a special type of document and shall be controlled in accordance with the requirements
given in 4.5.4.
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) to
a) approve documents for adequacy prior to issue,
b) review and update as necessary and re-approve documents,
c) ensure that changes and the current revision status of documents are identified,
d) ensure that relevant versions of applicable documents are available at points of use,
e) ensure that documents remain legible and readily identifiable,
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f) ensure that documents of external origin determined by the organization to be necessary for the planning
and operation of the environmental management system are identified and their distribution controlled, and
g) prevent the unintended use of obsolete documents and apply suitable identification to them if they are
retained for any purpose.
4.4.6 Operational control
The organization shall identify and plan those operations that are associated with the identified significant
environmental aspects consistent with its environmental policy, objectives and targets, in order to ensure that
they are carried out under specified conditions, by
a) establishing, implementing and maintaining a documented procedure(s) to control situations where their
absence could lead to deviation from the environmental policy, objectives and targets, and
b) stipulating the operating criteria in the procedure(s), and
c) establishing, implementing and maintaining procedures related to the identified significant environmental
aspects of goods and services used by the organization and communicating applicable procedures and
requirements to suppliers, including contractors.
4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) to identify potential emergency
situations and potential accidents that can have an impact(s) on the environment and how it will respond to
them.
The organization shall respond to actual emergency situations and accidents and prevent or mitigate
associated adverse environmental impacts.
The organization shall periodically review and, where necessary, revise its emergency preparedness and
response procedures, in particular, after the occurrence of accidents or emergency situations.
The organization shall also periodically test such procedures where practicable.
4.5 Checking
4.5.1 Monitoring and measurement
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) to monitor and measure, on a regular
basis, the key characteristics of its operations that can have a significant environmental impact. The
procedure(s) shall include the documenting of information to monitor performance, applicable operational
controls and conformity with the organization's environmental objectives and targets.
The organization shall ensure that calibrated or verified monitoring and measurement equipment is used and
maintained and shall retain associated records.
4.5.2 Evaluation of compliance
4.5.2.1 Consistent with its commitment to compliance, the organization shall establish, implement and
maintain a procedure(s) for periodically evaluating compliance with applicable legal requirements.
The organization shall keep records of the results of the periodic evaluations.
4.5.2.2 The organization shall evaluate compliance with other requirements to which it subscribes. The
organization may wish to combine this evaluation with the evaluation of legal compliance referred to in 4.5.2.1
or to establish a separate procedure(s).
The organization shall keep records of the results of the periodic evaluations.
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
4.5.3 Nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) for dealing with actual and potential
nonconformity(ies) and for taking corrective action and preventive action. The procedure(s) shall define
requirements for
a) identifying and correcting nonconformity(ies) and taking action(s) to mitigate their environmental impacts,
b) investigating nonconformity(ies), determining their cause(s) and taking actions in order to avoid their
recurrence,
c) evaluating the need for action(s) to prevent nonconformity(ies) and implementing appropriate actions
designed to avoid their occurrence,
d) recording the results of corrective action(s) and preventive action(s) taken, and
e) reviewing the effectiveness of corrective action(s) and preventive action(s) taken.
Actions taken shall be appropriate to the magnitude of the problems and the environmental impacts
encountered.
The organization shall ensure that any necessary changes are made to environmental management system
documentation.
4.5.4 Control of records
The organization shall establish and maintain records as necessary to demonstrate conformity to the
requirements of its environmental management system and of this International Standard, and the results
achieved.
The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) for the identification, storage,
protection, retrieval, retention and disposal of records.
Records shall be and remain legible, identifiable and traceable.
4.5.5 Internal audit
The organization shall ensure that internal audits of the environmental management system are conducted at
planned intervals to
a) determine whether the environmental management system
1) conforms to planned arrangements for environmental management including the requirements of this
International Standard, and
2) has been properly implemented and is maintained, and
b) provide information on the results of audits to management.
Audit programme(s) shall be planned, established, implemented and maintained by the organization, taking into
consideration the environmental importance of the operation(s) concerned and the results of previous audits.
Audit procedure(s) shall be established, implemented and maintained that address
— the responsibilities and requirements for planning and conducting audits, reporting results and retaining
associated records,
— the determination of audit criteria, scope, frequency and methods.
Selection of auditors and conduct of audits shall ensure objectivity and the impartiality of the audit process.
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4.6 Management review
Top management shall review the organization's environmental management system, at planned intervals, to
ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. Reviews shall include assessing opportunities for
improvement and the need for changes to the environmental management system, including the environmental
policy and environmental objectives and targets. Records of the management reviews shall be retained.
Input to management reviews shall include
a) results of internal audits and evaluations of compliance with legal requirements and with other requirements
to which the organization subscribes,
b) communication(s) from external interested parties, including complaints,
c) the environmental performance of the organization,
d) the extent to which objectives and targets have been met,
e) status of corrective and preventive actions,
f) follow-up actions from previous management reviews,
g) changing circumstances, including developments in legal and other requirements related to its
environmental aspects, and
h) recommendations for improvement.
The outputs from management reviews shall include any decisions and actions related to possible changes to
environmental policy, objectives, targets and other elements of the environmental management system,
consistent with the commitment to continual improvement.
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ISO 14001:2004(E)
Annex A
(informative)
Guidance on the use of this International Standard
A.1 General requirements
The additional text given in this annex is strictly informative and is intended to prevent misinterpretation of the
requirements contained in Clause 4 of this International Standard. While this information addresses and is
consistent with the requirements of Clause 4, it is not intended to add to, subtract from, or in any way modify
these requirements.
The implementation of an environmental management system specified by this International Standard is
intended to result in improved environmental performance. Therefore this International Standard is based on
the premise that the organization will periodically review and evaluate its environmental management system to
identify opportunities for improvement and their implementation. The rate, extent and timescale of this continual
improvement process are determined by the organization in the light of economic and other circumstances.
Improvements in its environmental management system are intended to result in further improvements in
environmental performance.
This International Standard requires an organization to
a) establish an appropriate environmental policy,
b) identify the environmental aspects arising from the organization's past, existing or planned activities,
products and services, in order to determine the environmental impacts of significance,
c) identify applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes,
d) identify priorities and set appropriate environmental objectives and targets,
e) establish a structure and a programme(s) to implement the policy and achieve objectives and meet targets,
f) facilitate planning, control, monitoring, preventive and corrective actions, auditing and review activities to
ensure both that the policy is complied with and that the environmental management system remains
appropriate, and
g) be capable of adapting to changing circumstances.
An organization with no existing environmental management system should, initially, establish its current
position with regard to the environment by means of a review. The aim of this review should be to consider all
environmental aspects of the organization as a basis for establishing the environmental management system.
The review should cover four key areas:
— identification of environmental aspects, including those associated with normal operating conditions,
abnormal conditions including start-up and shut-down, and emergency situations and accidents;
— identification of applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes;
— examination of existing environmental management practices and procedures, including those associated
with procurement and contracting activities;
— evaluation of previous emergency situations and accidents.
Tools and methods for undertaking a review might include checklists, conducting interviews, direct inspection
and measurement, results of previous audits or other reviews, depending on the nature of the activities.
An organization has the freedom and flexibility to define its boundaries and may choose to implement this
International Standard with respect to the entire organization or to specific operating units of the organization.
The organization should define and document the scope of its environmental management system. Defining the
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10 ISO 2004 – All rights reserved

ISO 14001:2004(E)
scope is intended to clarify the boundaries of the organization to which the environmental management system
will apply, especially if the organization is a part of a larger organization at a given location. Once the scope is
defined, all activities, products and services of the organization within that scope need to be included in the
environmental management system. When setting the scope, it should be noted that the credibility of the
environmental management system will depend upon the choice of organizational boundaries. If a part of an
organization is excluded from the scope of its environmental management system, the organization should be
able to explain the exclusion. If this International Standard is implemented for a specific operating unit, policies
and procedures developed by other parts of the organization can be used to meet the requirements of this
International Standard, provided that they are applicable to that specific operating unit.
A.2 Environmental policy
The environmental policy is the driver for implementing and improving an organization's environmental
management system so that it can maintain and potentially improve its environmental performance. This policy
should therefore reflect the commitment of top management to comply with applicable legal requirements and
other requirements, to prevent pollution and to continually improve. The environmental policy forms the basis
upon which the organization sets its objectives and targets. The environmental policy should be sufficiently
clear to be able to be understood by internal and external interested parties, and should be periodically
rev
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