• Techstreet Clients
• Press Releases
• Services for Publishers

An Introduction to the ISO 14000 Standards

---

The ISO 14000 family of International Standards on environmental management is a comparative newcomer to ISO's portfolio - but environment-related standardization is far from being a new departure for ISO.

In fact, ISO has a two-pronged approach to meeting the needs of business, industry, governments and consumers in the field of the environment.

On the one hand, it offers a wide-ranging portfolio of standardized sampling, testing and analytical methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed more than 350 International Standards (out of a total of more than 11400) for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and soil. These standards are a means of providing business and government with scientifically valid data on the environmental effects of economic activity. They also serve in a number of countries as the technical basis for environmental regulations.

On the other hand, ISO is leading a strategic approach by developing environmental management system standards that can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sector (companies, administrations, public utilities). To spearhead this strategic approach, ISO established a new technical committee, ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, in 1993. This followed ISO's successful pioneering experience in management system standardization with the ISO 9000 series for quality management.

The first standards developed by TC 207 were published in 1996. The committee's output is known collectively as, "the ISO 14000 family".

Where ISO 14000 came from and who is behind it

What?

ISO 14000 grew out of ISO's commitment to support the objective of "sustainable development" discussed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.

Who?

ISO launched the new technical committee, ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, in 1993. However, this was preceded by an intensive consultation process, carried out within the framework of the ISO/IEC Strategic Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE), set up in 1991, in which 20 countries, 11 international organizations and more than 100 environmental experts participated in defining the basic requirements of a new approach to environment-related standards.

Today, delegations of business and government experts from 55 countries participate actively within TC 207, and another 16 countries have observer status. These delegations are chosen by the national standards institute concerned and they are required to bring to TC 207 a national consensus on issues being addressed by the committee. This national consensus is derived from a process of consultation with interested parties.

How?

If you're reading this, you're an "interested party" and you may be wondering whether, and how, you can help shape the ISO 14000 standards.

In the past, you may have been under the misapprehension that ISO standards were developed by full-time standardization experts in an ivory tower who then threw them over the wall and expected users to get on with them. You will now have understood that the business sectors most interested in implementing the eventual standards are the ones who provide experts to develop the standards. Your own interest may be such that you would like to provide input, or even participate in the work. In fact, there are channels and opportunities for you have a say in the future development of ISO 14000. Contact the ISO member for your country for details.