ISO 14000 – Environmental Program Management

The ISO 14000 series of standards has

received widespread attention, and, like ISO 9000, it is becoming a requirementfor domestic and global organizations.

This document is intended to provide a

baseline understanding of the ISO 14000 standards and to discuss the current status of this important standard.

The International Organization for Geneva, Switzerland, is composed of 92 European Union (EU) to establish universal quality standards. Over time, ISO

Standardization (IOS), headquartered in member countries. Adherance to standards developed by the IOS is voluntary. However, countries and industries may adopt the IOS standards. Until approximately 15 years ago, IOS focused on traditional standards-setting activities. In 1987, IOS published the ISO 9000 series standards that were used with the9000 became recognized as a positive indicator of quality and a prerequisite toestablishing/maintaining business relationships within and outside the European Union.

In the United States, both the American

National Standards Institute and the American Society of Quality Control are privately funded organizations that have adopted ISO 9000, Quality Management, and the ISO 14000 standards.

ISO 14000 is the generic title given to 14040, ISO 14041, and ISO14050 have

the 14000 series of standards. ISO 14001, ISO 14004, ISO 14010, ISO 14011, ISO 14012, ISO 14020, ISO been published as international standards. The ISO 14000 series of standards consists of the following 18 subjects that can be grouped under two major headings:

14001 Specification with Guidance for Use

14004 General Guidelines on Principles,

14010 General Principles of Environmental Auditing

14011 Audit Procedures

14012 Environmental Auditing ? Qualification Criteria

14015 Environmental Site Assessments

14031 Evaluation of Environmental Performance ? Guidelines

14032 Evaluation of Environmental Performance ? Case Studies

14020 Goals and Principles of All Environmental Labeling

14021 Environmental Labels and Declarations ? Terms and Definitions

14024 Environmental Labels and

14025 Type III Labeling

14040 Life Cycle Assessment ? Principles and Framework

14041 Life Cycle Assessment ? Inventory Analysis

14042 Life Cycle Assessment ? ImpactAssessment

14043 Life Cycle Assessment ? Interpretation

14048 Life Cycle Indicator Format

14050 Guide on the Principles of Terminology Work

At the current time, the ISO 14000 as International Standards are referred to

Standards that have not been published as Draft International Standards (DIS). Most DIS are in the final review period before publication. If a particular standard is of interest and is not final, a copy of the DIS may be available for review.