Introduction | Overview | List of Registered Companies
ISO 14001 (Environmental)
Introduction
The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is pleased to offer
an Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Registration Program based
on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001
Standard - Environmental Management Systems.
Environmental protection is increasingly becoming a major concern.
Issues such as climate changes, ozone layer depletion, soil and
groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution and disposal of
hazardous wastes are the focus of governments, industry and the
general public globally. This growing interest and attention, as
well as concerns from organizations of all kinds to facilitate sound
environmental management, were the driving force behind the development
of ISO 14001.
The ISO 14001 standard does not guarantee good environmental performance
or replace legislative and business requirements, but it:
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will provide a standardized procedure for complying with those
requirements,
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may help to prevent environmental requirements from becoming
trade barriers,
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may, in part, be a means to demonstrate due diligence with
respect to environmental liabilities, and
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should encourage employees to improve their own environmental
performance.
The program provides a cost effective, convenient and systematic
way to demonstrate environmental stewardship and accountability
to interested parties, such as government, the public, environmental
groups, investors and others.
Registration Program
The EMS Registration Program was developed by CGSB to distinguish
organizations that wish to demonstrate, through third-party registration,
their conformance to ISO 14001.
The program is based on compliance with environmental legislation
and other requirements, prevention of pollution and a commitment
to continual improvement. To become registered, an organization
must demonstrate that it has a fully functioning EMS in accordance
with ISO 14001.
The registration process consists of reviewing the organization's
EMS documentation, assessing the level of commitment to improved
environmental performance, and assessing the implementation of the
organization's EMS procedures through an on-site audit process.
After registration, follow up audits are carried out, usually on
an annual basis. These audits assure CGSB and others that the EMS
continues to conform to ISO 14001.
Introduction | Overview | List of Registered Companies
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