What are the changes to ISO 14000?
One of the biggest changes form American businesses since the creation
of the ISO 9000 series of standards ten years ago is the implementation of NAFTA,
the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA countries are attempting to bring
together ISO 14000 standards with requirements under the North American Agreement
on Environmental Cooperation, an environmental side agreement to NAFTA. Some government
officials in the three North American countries are trying to develop a joint agreement
on the development of consistent environmental management systems throughout the
continent. A group called the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation
(CEC) has as its goal addressing regional concerns and preventing potential trade
and environmental conflicts while promoting the effective enforcement of environ-mental
laws. CEC‘s membership is comprised of cabinet-level environmental officials from
Canada, Mexico and the U.S., a Joint Public Advisory Committee, and a secretariat
staffed with environmental experts, based in Montreal.
Thus far, CEC‘s only public position is a 1997 statement that private voluntary
efforts, such as adoptions of EMS‘s based on ISO 14001, may also foster improved
environmental compliance and sound environmental management and performance. But
the statement adds that adopting an EMS pursuant to the ISO 14001 standard does
not indicate compliance with legal requirements and will not prevent governments
from taking enforcement actions where appropriate.
Some businesses would prefer to see the CEC spearhead an effort to have a uniform
set of environmental regulations for all of North America. Some government officials
wish to have the CEC help develop EMS‘s that are consistent within all of North
America.
Complicating a NAFTA-wide set of EMS is the relationship of ISO 14001 to regulatory
requirements. The U.S. EPA has requested a series of changes to ISO 14001, expressing
concerns that the standard doesn‘t go far enough in the areas of compliance or pollution
prevention. This request is part of the —100-100“ controversy, as to whether companies
should be required to comply with 100 percent of environmental regulations 100 percent
of the time.
The U.S. ISO 14001 delegation has taken the position that companies implementing
ISO 14001 need not be in 100 percent compliance 100 percent of the time. The U.S.
delegation believes that a company‘s responsibility is to avoid having non-compliance
with regulations that would rise to a level of —systems failure“ with respect to
any of the required components of ISO 14001. One member of the U.S. delegation is
quoted as saying that a —100-100“ standard is unrealistic, and
could put companies that operate in the U.S. at a severe disadvantage.
U.S. EPA has requested several changes in ISO 14001 standards, specifically in the
areas of external communications and performance. But both EPA and U.S. ISO 14001
representatives stress that standards in the European Union are not more stringent
on environmental compliance than ISO 14001. The European Union has adopted an —Eco-Management
and Audit Scheme“ (EMAS) regulation, but U.S. officials point out that EMAS does
not require —100-100 compliance.
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