Decision 2013/131 - 2013/131/EU: Commission Decision of 4 March 2013 establishing the user’s guide setting out the steps needed to participate in EMAS, under Regulation 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (notified under document C(2013) 1114) - Main contents

official title

COMMISSION DECISION

of 4 March 2013

establishing the user’s guide setting out the steps needed to participate in EMAS, under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)

(notified under document C(2013) 1114)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2013/131/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC (1), and in particular Article 46(5) thereof,

Whereas:

Companies and other organisations should receive additional information and guidance about the steps needed to participate in EMAS,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

To provide additional information clarifying the steps needed to participate in EMAS, the Commission adopts this user guide.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 March 2013.

For the Commission

Janez POTOČNIK

Member of the Commission

• (1) 

  OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 1.

ANNEX

User’s guide setting out the steps needed to participate in EMAS, under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)

• I. 

  INTRODUCTION

It is an objective of EU environmental policy to encourage all kinds of organisations to use environmental management systems and reduce their environmental impacts. Environmental management systems are one of the possible tools for companies and other organisations to improve their environmental performance whilst saving energy and other resources. In particular, the EU would like to encourage organisations to participate in the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) which is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance.

EMAS was established in 1993 and evolved over time. The EMAS Regulation (1) provides the legal basis for the scheme and the latest revision dates back to 2009.

This ‘EMAS User’s Guide’ has been prepared according to the requirements of Article 46(5) of the EMAS Regulation. This document aims to deliver clear, simple advice for organisations interested in EMAS. It is intended to offer step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. The guide outlines the main elements and steps to be undertaken by an organisation that intends to participate in the scheme. The document aims to increase the overall uptake of the EMAS management system by facilitating the entry of organisations into the scheme. It is also important to keep in mind the general objective of the European Regulation, which is to harmonise implementation across all Member States and create a common legislative framework. For specific ‘EMAS Global’ related issues the reader is referred to the ‘Commission Decision 2011/832/EU, of 7 December 2011 concerning a guide on EU corporate registration, third country and global registration under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)’ (2).

II.   WHAT IS THE ECO-MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SCHEME (EMAS)?

EMAS is a voluntary tool available to any organisation operating in any economic sector within or outside the European Union that wants to:

This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

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