ISO member countries have followed the UK in voting to move the latest version of the revised 14001 text on to draft international standard (DIS)
A second committee draft (CD2) of the revised environment management systems standard was published in October 2013 and ISO countries had until 23 January to vote on whether CD2 should become a DIS.
ISO has now confirmed that the national groups have voted in favour of taking CD2 to the next stage.
Martin Baxter, executive director of policy at IEMA and the UK’s appointed expert on the revision to 14001, said: “We're delighted with the overwhelmingly positive ballot on moving the revision forward.
“The changes being proposed are significant, integrating environmental management into organisational strategy and decision-making and adding further emphasis on improving environmental performance.”
After meetings on 16 December and 9 January, the UK’s national working group confirmed it was in favour of CD2 becoming a DIS. It also proposed a new definition of “risk” for inclusion in the standard, to clarify that – within the context of 14001 – risks have a negative consequence.
The ISO working group revising 14001 will discuss the UK’s proposed definition and comments from other national groups at its next meeting which takes place between 25 February and 1 March.
“The focus of the meeting will be to address comments and build a stronger consensus on the changes that are being proposed,” confirmed Baxter, who will be attending the meeting on behalf of the UK. “We’ll then enter a further round of consultation with users before moving to the final stages of the revision process.”
For more information on ISO 14001 CD2 read Martin Baxter’s article from the January 2014 issue of the environmentalist
