Summary
Do you want to reduce the cost of your organisation's energy bills?
As a company, are you trying to reduce your negative impacts on the environment and improve your environmental performance on an ongoing basis?
Is your intermunicipal organisation required to adopt an environmental management system?
EMAS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SYSTEM
EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) allows your organisation:
- to continuously improve its environmental performance
- to systematically, objectively and periodically evaluate the operation of its management system
- to communicate its environmental results to the public and its stakeholders
CHOOSE EMAS
Beyond the value of helping to create a more sustainable future, registering your organisation with EMAS will create positive and effective change within it, while combining image opportunities with environmental performance.
WHO DOES THIS CONCERN?
Any public or private sector organisation in the European Community or in third countries can apply for registration to EMAS.
The SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (SPW ARNE) is your contact if your organisation is located in Wallonia.
It is responsible for testing the completeness and conformity of EMAS registration applications in Wallonia.
Being part of an environmental management system can also be a requirement for a company to be granted an environmental permit.
REGISTER YOUR ORGANISATION!
Check the conditions and procedure below.
Key points
EMAS registration is valid for three years and can be extended to four years for small organisations that request it.
You can receive aids such as company vouchers, adaptation credit and environmental investment subsidies (see useful links below).
In detail
Any private or public organisation:
- located in the European Community or in third countries,
- with a head office or business unit located in Wallonia and
- for the continuous improvement of environmental performance in the context of its professional activities:
- is an obligation (following an application for an environmental permit)
- is of interest
PREPARATION FOR INITIAL REGISTRATION OR RENEWAL
Prior to your application for registration, your organisation must:
- conduct an environmental analysis of its activities: review the activities, products and/or services it offers and evaluate their environmental impacts. This analysis will allow you to define the priority actions and improvement objectives of your organisation
- create an environmental management system (EMS): define the operational procedures and internal tests implemented to achieve the improvement objectives set following the environmental analysis
- prepare an environmental statement to communicate to stakeholders and the public your approach to continuous improvement and your environmental performance
- be audited by an independent auditor duly accredited by BELAC in their field of activity
APPLICATION FOR EMAS REGISTRATION
The application must meet the following conditions:
- completeness: the application file includes the environmental statement validated by the environmental inspector, the registration form (Annex VI) and the validation statement by the inspector (Annex VII)
- verification: verification and validation are performed by an environmental inspector duly accredited for the organisation's field of activity
- environmental compliance: there are no complaints or violations of environmental legislation regarding this organisation
- EMAS compliance: the organisation meets the requirements of the regulation
DURATION OF REGISTRATION
Registration is valid for three years and can be extended to four years for small organisations that request it.
During this period, the organisation undergoes annual audits (one internal audit and one environmental audit).
There are many benefits of integrating the system into your organisation, including:
- continuous improvement of environmental performance
- energy and resource savings
- optimising relations with stakeholders (public administrations, service companies, etc.)
- the guarantee of being in compliance with environmental legislation in every respect
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
1. The applicant organisation submits its application for registration by email to SPW ARNE (emas.environnement@spw.wallonie.be) and provides the following documents:
- the environmental statement validated by the environmental inspector
- the auditor's validation statement (Annex VII of the Regulation)
- the registration form (Annex VI of the Regulation)
2. The SPW ARNE receives the application and checks its completeness.
If an application is incomplete, the SPW ARNE will notify the applicant and invite them to submit the missing documents electronically.
3. The SPW ARNE checks the conformity of the application for registration with the requirements of the regulation.
If all the conditions are met, the SPW ARNE registers the organisation in the European EMAS register and issues it with a registration number and its official EMAS logo.
ANNUAL RENEWAL
Each year, after the external audit, the organisation applies for the renewal of its registration by email to SPW ARNE (emas.environnement@spw.wallonie.be) by providing:
- the environmental statement validated by the environmental inspector
- the registration form (Annex VI of the Regulation)
The SPW ARNE checks the completeness of the application and its compliance with the requirements of the regulation.
If all the conditions are met, the SPW ARNE renews the organisation's registration in the European EMAS register.
If any information is missing for your renewal, the SPW ARNE will invite you to provide it to the organisation.
If the audit reveals the presence of an environmental legal infringement, the SPW ARNE can suspend the approval.
APPEAL
If you want to contest a decision taken by the SPW ARNE concerning your registration or renewal application, contact the EMAS Coordination of the SPW ARNE in the first instance to inform it and try to find a solution.
Formal appeals may be made to the Council of State.
- 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)
- Amendment to annexes I, II and III of EC Regulation No.1221/2009
- Amendment to annex IV of EC Regulation No. 1221/2009
- Cooperation agreement of 12 May 2017 between the federal state, the Flemish region, the Walloon region and the French Community of Belgium region regarding the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009
Useful documents
Useful links
- Consult the EMAS pages on the Wallonia environment portal (only available in French)
- Check the help available for your organisation (only available in French)
- Consult the different tools developed to support your organisation throughout your EMAS project (only available in French)
- Consult the pages of the EMAS Club Wallonia, a platform for the exchange of inspiring practices (only available in French)