ISO/ TC 207 onEnvironmentalManagement

Potential Application for ESM

Katie Altoft

ISO/ TC 207 Secretariat

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Presentation Overview

▼ Who is ISO?

▼ Introduction to Technical Committee 207

▼ How is an ISO document developed?

▼ What are the options for deliverables?

▼ ISO/TC 207 Draft Sector Policy

▼ Considerations

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ISO in Figures▼ Established in 1946

▼ Based in Geneva- Switzerland

▼ 137 Member bodies (Countries)

▼ 187 Technical Committees -run by MemberBodies

▼ 572 Subcommittees

▼ 2063 Working Groups

▼ 150 million CHF budget

▼ More than 12,500 Standards and Docs

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ORGANIZATIONALFOCUS

PRODUCTFOCUSEnvironmental Communications

EnvironmentalPerformanceEvaluationEnvironmental

ManagementSystem

Auditing

Designfor

Environment

LifeCycle

Assessment

Labeling

EnvironmentalManagement Framework

Source: Five Winds International

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TC 207 Background▼ Scope: Environmental Management tools

and systems.

▼ Vision: facilitate world trade andcontribute to sustainable development.

▼ Membership: 65 participating countries,14 observing countries, 41 liaisonorganizations.

� ISO’s Largest Technical Committee!

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ISO DevelopmentProcess

60 12 18 24 30 36 42 48

NP approval Projectcancelled

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Target dates

1st WD 1st CD FDIS IS

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ISO Deliverables

1) International Standard (IS)

2) Technical Specification (TS)

3) Technical Report (TR)

4) Publicly Available Specification (PAS)

5) International Workshop Agreement(IWA)

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International StandardWhen?

– Typical ISO deliverable

How it works:

– Approval requires >2/3 majority of P-member votes

– < 1/4 of total votes cast may be negative

– Follows rules and timelines outlined inISO process

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Technical SpecificationWhen?

– Subject in question is still underdevelopment, or for other reasons there isfuture, but not immediate possibility of ISOR

– Required support can’t be obtained for an ISat this time

How it works:– Approval requires >2/3 majority of P-

member votes

– Must specify reason for TS in document

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Technical ReportWhen?

– Collection of data of different kind thannormally makes up an IS (e.g. survey data)

– Informative in nature, not normative

How it works:

– Approval requires simple majority of P-member votes

– Must explain TR's relationship tonormative aspects of the subject in IS

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Sample TR:ISO/ TR 14061

TR 14061 Information to assist forestryorganizations in the use of EnvironmentalManagement System standards ISO 14001 andISO 14004

– does not propose forestry requirements

– content is not normative in any sense

– does not establish performance levels

– cannot form the basis for environmentalperformance claims and does not create aproduct label.

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Publicly AvailableSpecification

When?– Can be used as an intermediary

specification, prior to the development ofan IS

How it works:– Published after verification that there is no

conflict with existing IS

– Simple majority of P-members

– Valid for 3 years, can be extended once foran additional 3 years

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InternationalWorkshop Agreement

When?– an IS is not deemed necessary, OR

– a document is needed faster...

How it works:– workshop proposed, ISO Member Body hosts

– one or more “workshops” are held - outside ofISO Process

– document submitted to ISO, with statement onlevel of agreement

– may exist for 6 years

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Sample IWA: IWA 1IWA 1: ISO 9000 guidelines for health caresector– ISO’s first IWA (September 2001)– a framework for the design and improvement

of process-based quality management systemsby health care organizations

– voluntary and not intended for certification oraccreditation

– based on draft jointly developed by theAmerican Society for Quality (ASQ) and theAutomotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)

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DraftTC 207 Sector Policy

Policy Objectives:

– ensure consistency

– maintain integrity

– put a mechanism in place

– prevent proliferation

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DraftTC 207 Sector Policy

Proposed Policy:– ISO TC 207 requires that all IS or other

deliverables on environmental managementbe developed within TC 207.

– Where TC 207 or another ISO TC feels thatmore specific guidance is required in orderto enable an industry to address aspects ofenvironmental management covered bystandards in the ISO 14000 series, this maybe done by developing an ISO TR

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DraftTC 207 Sector Policy

Proposed Policy, continued

– ISO TC 207 shall require that any NWIP fora sector-specific document clearlydemonstrate a global consensus for theproposed sector-specific document.

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DraftTC 207 Sector Policy

Proposed Process:

With respect to EMS

– no sector-specific documents to ISO14001:1996 before the revision process iscomplete, and the 2nd edition is published.

– Beyond the revision, the latest edition shallbe wholly referenced within the document asa specification

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Considerations

▼ What is the nature of the guidelines?

▼ Is this truly a sector-specificapplication?

▼ What type of verification, if any do youwant?

▼ What timelines are you looking at?