ISO 14001

The basic aim of the standard is support of the environmental protection and the pollution prevention. The standard does not define any absolute requirements for the environmental behaviour of a company. Nevertheless this one accentuates on observance of the legislative requirements regarding particular elements of the environment.

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PRINCIPLES OF CERTIFICATION ACCORDING TO ISO 14001

The internationally recognized standard ISO 14001 comprises the core elements of an effective environmental management system which can be used for services , as well as doe the production (manufacturing) sector . The standard describes the requirements for a corporate governance system which allows for reducing the environmental impacts related to the operation of organizations. The standard requires that a company defines environmental goals and creates a management system necessary for their achievement. The certificate guarantees that an environmental management system is implemented, documented, used and maintained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. As a result of the fact that the certificate is issued by an accredited third party – a certification authority – the entity actively minimizes the environmental impacts of its activities, products and services.

BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION

• providing and improving the care for the environment
• achieving the intended deliverables of environmental management
• realizing one’s own responsibility
• managing environmental responsibility in a systematic manner
• identification, description and reduction of risks
• improving the company’s profile/image and improving the environment
• motivation of employees
• early identification of problems with the environment
• more guarantees for the compliance with legal and other requirements
• preventing potential problems, sanctions and expenses related to the removal of potential damages caused to the environment
• competitive advantages

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The basic phases of the certification procedure are as follows:

• implementing the EMS into practice
• preparing the documentation
• certification by an accredited certification authority
  • assessing and registering the client’s request for certification
  • entering into a contract on the performance of a certification audit (certification audit takes place in two stages)
  • setting up a team of auditors
  • preparing a plan of the audit
  • checking the facts in stages:
    a) reviewing the client’s documentation
    b) checking the facts on site
  • drawing up a report on the result of the certification audit
  • assessment of the audit report by the certification authority
  • issuing the certificate
• supervisory audit
  • o during the three-year validity period of the certificate, a supervisory audit is performed once a year in the first and second year. Following up on the result of the supervision, a decision will be issued on the confirmation of the validity of the certificate until the next supervision or a decision will be issued on suspending the validity of the certificate. In case of significant deviations from the requirements of the standards, it is possible – as a last resort – to revoke the certificate
• recertification audit
  • To ensure continuous validity of certification, a recertification audit should take place based on the certificate holder’s decision in the third year before expiration of the certificate’s validity.

IQNET – international certificate

Institute for Testing and Certification is a member of the CQS, which is a member of the international network IQNet. Through this co-operation, it is possible to issue upon request both the ITC certificate and the CQS certificate and the internationally recognized IQNet certificate within the framework of a single certification process.

RELATED SERVICES

• Certification according to other system and industry standards (ISO 13485, ISO 9001, ISO 50001, OHSMS – ISO 45001)
• Assessment of conformity of products to the requirements of European directives (CE marking of products)
• Testing of products, ATEST ITC
• Calibration, verification of standards and measuring instruments
• Voluntary certification – “ITC – certified quality“ mark
• Technical standardization

CONTACTS

Post address:
Institute for Testing and Certification, Inc.
QMS EMS certification department
trida Tomase Bati 5264, 760 01, Zlin
Czech Republic

The person responsible for accuracy of data: Jaroslav Rapant