EMAS is the EU’s voluntary system for environmental management and auditing. The system is used to streamline and improve environmental efforts in companies and organizations, as well as to convey a credible message to the market about the results of these efforts.
EMAS allows the use of ISO 14001 as the environmental management system but requires, among other things, that the company also publishes an annual public environmental statement.
The environmental statement is published, and the organization is registered by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which is the designated competent body in Sweden responsible for managing applications for EMAS registration.
The EMAS registration is available on the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s website, as well as in the EU’s EMAS register.
Organizations seeking EMAS registration must be audited by an environmental verifier. In Sweden, this task is carried out by certification bodies accredited by Swedac.
The audit includes a validation of the environmental statement and that it meets the requirements of the EMAS Regulation as well as verifying that the organization has a functioning management system in accordance with it.
Foreign environmental verifiers accredited or licensed in another country but wishing to operate in Sweden must report this to Swedac. Swedac will then assess how the activity should be supervised, whether Swedac will participate on-site or if documentation from the activity will be reviewed.
Swedac must be informed of planned activities at least four weeks before they are carried out, and notifications should be sent to registrator@swedac.se.
The notification must include information in accordance with the EMAS Regulation, (EC) No 1221/2009, Article 24, paragraph 1 a-c. See also (EU) 2016/1621, Article 2.1.
The cost for the actual time spent by Swedac will be invoiced, in accordance with Swedac’s regulations.