The Environmental Management Systems (EMS) certification scheme is based on the AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 certification standard. The scheme assists organisations to minimise the harmful effects of their activities on the environment, meet legal environmental requirements, and to achieve continual improvement of their environmental performance.

The following provides links to the accreditation criteria, accreditation application pack documentation, and other related documents. All policies and procedures are un-controlled when printed. Please read all appropriate accreditation criteria, Procedure 5 (accreditation process), and when ready provide a completed application (with signatures, appropriate application fee, and documentation set) for review.

Accreditation Criteria

             ISO/IEC 17021 - available from your national standards writing body

IAF MD 1:2007 Certification of Multiple Sites Based on Sampling

IAF MD 2:2007 Transfer of Accredited Certification of Management Systems

IAF MD 3:2008 Advanced Surveillance and Recertification Procedures (ASRP)

IAF MD 4:2008 Use of Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques ("CAAT") for Accredited Certification of Management Systems
Note that IAF MD 1 to MD 4 are only mandatory if the CABs certification system provides for certification:
* of multi-sites by sampling, or
* using transfer of accredited certification, or
* applying Advanced Surveillance and Recertification Procedures (ASRP), or
* applying Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT).

IAF MD 5:2009 Duration of QMS and EMS Audits

Procedure 3 - Rules of procedure governing the use of the accreditation symbol (40 KB)

Procedure 11 - Rules of procedure governing accreditation (70 KB)

Policies

Policies introduce or change accreditation criteria.

Policy 05/09 - Introduction of EA Guidance on the application of ISO/IEC 17021:2006 for Combined Management Systems Audits (130 KB)

EA-7/05 EA Guidance on the Application of ISO/IEC 17021:2006 for Combined Audits (335 KB)

Policy 07/09 - Extending the scope of accreditation to include additional, critical locations (local and foreign), locations (local and foreign) and foreign countries (40 KB)

Application Documents

Form 22 - Fee structure (25 KB)

Form 28 - EMS application form (210 KB)

             List of ANZSIC titles and codes - link opens window on ABS website

Form 45 - Information disclosure (50 KB)

Form 107 - ISO/IEC 17021 checklist  (680 KB)

Accreditation Process 

Procedure 5 - The conduct of accreditation assessments (180 KB) 

Advisory Notes

Advisory notes do not change accreditation criteria. There are no current advisory notes.

 If you require further information please contact us.

Other information

For more detailed information on the scheme visit the ISO website.

This page is written for CABs interested in gaining accreditation. If you are an organisation interested in gaining certification for this scheme contact an accredited CAB for further information. A list of CABs accredited for EMS is available here.

Case study: Environmental Management Systems Benefit Australian & New Zealand Organisations (390KB)

The Environmental Management Systems Association (Australia)