Using EMAS and keeping your registration
Keeping and renewing your registration
Maintaining an EMAS registration means the consistent functioning and compliance of the organisation's environmental management system throughout the validity of the registration. To do this, the necessary audits must be carried out regularly, the environmental report must be updated and approved by the competent authority. The registration will have to be renewed according to the current cycle, and for small and medium-sized enterprises, more flexible interim reporting conditions may apply.
Important to know concerning this step
Registration is generally valid for 3 years (small and medium-sized enterprises have the option to apply for a longer period (4 years)).
Regardless of this period, the updated documentation must be prepared before the deadline and certified by the verifier. The certified documentation must be submitted to the competent authority for the renewal of the registration.
You can read more about the registration renewal process and the necessary documentation Interactive Guide to the Implementation of EMAS.
In order to maintain an EMAS registration, a number of activities must be carried out each year (every other year for small and medium-sized enterprises) to demonstrate the performance and compliance of the environmental management system.
This includes:
- conducting an internal audit,
- updating the environmental statement,
- Approval of the report by an accredited verifier, and
- submission of the approved report and form to the competent authority.
Verifiers may also carry out interim audits to assess the consistent functioning of the system and improvement activities.
You can read more about the annual activities Interactive Guide to the Implementation of EMAS.
In the event of significant changes (e.g. introduction of new processes or products, increase of production capacity) that introduce new environmental aspects or impacts or change their significance or relevance, the environmental review, environmental policy, environmental plan, environmental management system and environmental statement must be updated. All updated documents must be certified and validated within 6 months of the changes being made and submitted to the competent authority in accordance with the requirements of Annex VI of the EMAS Regulation.
More information on the development of the environmental review, environmental policy, environmental plan, environmental management system and environmental report can be found in the EMAS implementation sub-service.
References
Annex I of the EMAS Regulation (Environmental Review)
Annex II of the EMAS Regulation (Environmental Management System Requirements)
EMAS Annex III (Internal Environmental Audit)
Annex IV of the EMAS Regulation (environmental reporting)
Annex V of the EMAS Regulation (EMAS logo)
Annex VI of the EMAS Regulation (information requirements for registration)
Annex VII of the EMAS Regulation (verifier's declaration of verification and validation)
Contacts
In case of any questions or to get advice, please contact the Environmental Agency. The Environmental Agency acts as the competent authority of EMAS in Estonia.