THE REQUIREMENTS OF ISO 14001:2004 WITH RESPECT TO LEGAL COMPLIANCE

ISO 14001:2004 requires an organization to make a “commitment” in its environmental policy to comply with applicable legal requirements that relate to its environmental aspects. The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a procedure(s) for periodically evaluating compliance with applicable legal requirements that is consistent with realising this commitment.

The specific clauses of ISO 14001:2004, which are most important with respect to legal compliance are the following EMS elements:

1) public environmental policy commitment to legal compliance (sub-clause 4.2);

2) identification and having access to applicable legal requirements and other requirements related to its environmental aspects (sub-clause 4.3.2 a));

3) how those legal requirements apply to the organisation’s environmental aspects (sub-clause 4.3.2 b));

4) objectives/targets/programs (sub-clause 4.3.3)

5) how legal obligations are routinely managed and monitored (sub-clauses 4.4.6 and 4.5.1);

6) evaluation of legal compliance (sub-clause 4.5.2);

7) corrective and preventive actions where necessary (sub-clause 4.5.3);

8) internal audit (sub-clause 4.5.5); and

9) management review (sub-clause 4.6).