Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)^f1, and in particular Article 9(1)(a) and Article 15(2) thereof,

Whereas:

The requirements set out in Section 4 of the European Standard EN ISO 14001:1996 constitute the environmental management system requirements of the Regulation (EC) No 761/2001, as set out in Part A of Annex I thereto.

The International Standard ISO 14001:1996 has been modified in 2004 following the work of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Committee TC207/SC1 Environment Management System, in order to improve compatibility of ISO 14001 with ISO 9001 and to clarify the existing text of ISO 14001 without adding any new additional requirements.

ISO has subsequently released a new revised version of the International Standard ISO 14001:2004 and of the European Standard EN ISO 14001:2004.

Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 should be amended to take account of the European Standard EN ISO 14001:2004.

Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Transitional arrangements are needed for organisations already registered under EMAS.

Commission Decision 97/265/EC^f2 on the recognition of the International Standard ISO 14001:1996 and the European Standard EN ISO 14001:1996, should be repealed.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 761/2001,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: