Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS is the EU’s voluntary system for environmental management and auditing. The system is used to streamline and improve environmental efforts in companies and organizations, as well as to convey a credible message to the market about the results of these efforts.
EMAS allows the use of ISO 14001 as the environmental management system but requires, among other things, that the company also publishes an annual public environmental statement.

The environmental statement is published, and the organization is registered by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which is the designated competent body in Sweden responsible for managing applications for EMAS registration.
The EMAS registration is available on the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s website, as well as in the EU’s EMAS register.

Organizations seeking EMAS registration must be audited by an environmental verifier. In Sweden, this task is carried out by certification bodies accredited by Swedac.
The audit includes a validation of the environmental statement and that it meets the requirements of the EMAS Regulation as well as verifying that the organization has a functioning management system in accordance with it.

Foreign environmental verifiers accredited or licensed in another country but wishing to operate in Sweden must report this to Swedac. Swedac will then assess how the activity should be supervised, whether Swedac will participate on-site or if documentation from the activity will be reviewed.
Swedac must be informed of planned activities at least four weeks before they are carried out, and notifications should be sent to registrator@swedac.se.
The notification must include information in accordance with the EMAS Regulation, (EC) No 1221/2009, Article 24, paragraph 1 a-c. See also (EU) 2016/1621, Article 2.1.
The cost for the actual time spent by Swedac will be invoiced, in accordance with Swedac’s regulations.

Requirements and guidance documents

Emas III

Specific documents for the accreditation scheme

Requirements that must be met for accreditation to be granted

(EC) No 1221/2009 EMAS | 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)

(EU) 2023/2463 EMAS Users Guide | User Guide for EMAS

SS-EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 | Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems – Part 1: Requirements (ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015)

Instructions and guidance for fulfilling accreditation requirements

2011/832/EU | Guidance on global registration

Acceptance criteria for objects/systems/persons assessed by the accredited body

General documents for the type of control

Requirements that must be met for accreditation to be granted

IAF MD 1:2023 | IAF Mandatory Document for the Audit and Certification of a Management System Operated by a Multi-Site Organization

IAF MD 11:2023 | IAF Mandatory Document for the Application of ISO/IEC 17021-1 for Audits of Integrated Management Systems

IAF MD 2:2023 | IAF Mandatory Document for the Transfer of Accredited Certification of Management Systems

IAF MD 23:2023 | Control of Entities Operating on Behalf of Accredited Management Systems Certification Bodies

IAF MD 28:2023 | IAF Mandatory Document for the Upload and Maintenance of Data on the IAF Database

IAF MD 4:2025 | IAF Mandatory Document for the Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Auditing/Assessment Purposes

SS-EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 | Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems – Part 1: Requirements (ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015)

STAFS 2020:1 | Swedac’s regulations and general guidelines on accreditation

Instructions and guidance for fulfilling accreditation requirements

IAF ID 3:2011 | IAF Informative Document for the Management of Extraordinary Events or Circumstances Affecting ABs, CABs and Certified Organizations

IAF PL 8:2023 | Rules for the Use of the IAF Logo

IAF PL 9:2023 | General Principles for the Use of the IAF CERTSEARCH Mark

SWEDAC DOC 10:5 | Guidance for information security work

SWEDAC DOC 20:1 | Swedac’s policy for reference to accreditation