Transitioning to ISO 14001:2004

SQA Advisory Number 14

Original date: Sept. 12, 2005
Revision date: Sept 12, 2005
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Introduction:

The Environmental Standard ISO 14001:1996 was revised effective November 15, 2004. All organizations currently certified to ISO 14001:1996 have until May 15, 2006 to upgrade their Environmental Management System (EMS) to the 2004 revision level. All ISO 14001:1996 certificates will expire on May 14, 2006.

Discussion:

As soon as possible, organizations certified to ISO 14001:1996 should obtain a copy of the 2004 version of the standard, analyze the changes, determine how they affect your environmental management system and implement the changes into the EMS as required. You may obtain a copy of the revised standard at:

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

1819 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Alternate address:
25 West 43rd Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10036

Phone: 212-642-4900
Fax: 212-398-0023
Email: info@ansi.org
Web: http://www.ansi.org

SQA Position:

The SQA position on transitioning organizations currently certified to ISO 14001:1996 to ISO 14001:2004 will be to plan for and subsequently conduct an “upgrade” audit during a regularly scheduled surveillance or recertification audit. In other words, when the organization has concluded their preparation for ISO 14001:2004 and is ready to proceed with an audit against the new criteria, SQA will schedule the upgrade audit, issue an audit plan showing the upgrade and execute the upgrade audit. The upgrade audit can occur within the standard surveillance or recertification cycle currently being applied. This timing, as well as the scheduling for the upgrade can be arranged with the assigned SQA auditor.

SQA environmental auditors have been asked to gauge an organization’s transition timing during the course of a regularly scheduled audit. This will help to ensure that an organization does not inadvertently miss an opportunity to upgrade prior to the expiration of their ISO 14001:1996 certificate.

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