About Accreditation

• Accreditation Schemes
  • Laboratory Accreditation
  • Accreditation of Inspection Bodies
  • Accreditation of Certification Bodies
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Regulations
  • European Eco-Management & Audit Scheme (EMAS)
  • Good Laboratory Practice
• Why Is Accreditation So Important?
• The Benefits Of Accreditation
• Who Can Be Accredited?
• The Accreditation Process
• The Assessment Team
• Accreditation Symbol
• INAB Policy on Handling Complaints
• Glossary of Terms
• INAB Brochure

European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

The European Commission’s Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is outlined in the Council Regulation No. 761/2001/EC.  EMAS incorporates EN ISO14001 as the Environmental Management system for an organisation and requires that an organisation: is compliant with all national and EU environmental regulations. demonstrates continuous improvement of environmental performance indicators each year. involves its employees in environmental issues. issues a verified public annual environmental statement.

These environmental statements explain how the organisation’s environmental performance is maintained and improved each year by outlining results achieved.

How to become an EMAS registered site?

The Irish National Accreditation Board is the designated competent body for EMAS in Ireland.  As competent body, INAB has responsibility to inform the EU Commission of all organisations registered in Ireland and also maintains this register of EMAS sites in Ireland.

In order to become an EMAS registered site you must first have your Organisation’s Environmental Statement verified by an Accredited EMAS verifier.  Your Organisation should then submit the verified Environmental statement, application form and all necessary information as requested together with registration payment, to INAB.

INAB, as competent body, has specific responsibility to review the application and Environmental statement against the EMAS regulation for registering Organisations. 

INAB will also contact the appropriate regulatory authority to ensure they have no objection to your organisation being placed on the EMAS register.

How to become an EMAS accredited verifier?

While it is not a precondition to have EMS accreditation in advance of application for EMAS accreditation, applicants should realise that all criteria from ISO 17021 will apply.  

In order to become accredited as an EMAS verifier, please see ‘Accreditation of Certification Bodies and Verifiers’ section of this website for more information.  Further Information

Useful links to other websites containing the Regulation and associated guidance documents can be found on the EU EMAS website or by sending an email to the EU EMAS help desk at emas@biois.com

To access the link to the European Eco-Management & Audit Scheme Information Sheet - IS3 EMAS Information Sheet (PDF, 1 Page, 43KB)