Environmental management systems

Certification is carried out by a certification body. Certification bodies that are accredited are referred to as accredited certification bodies. They are listed in Swedac’s accreditation register.

Certification bodies must comply with the requirements of the SS-EN ISO/IEC 17021 standard when performing certifications.

The standard includes requirements such as:

the initial certification assessment is conducted in two stages on-site surveillance is carried out at least once per year a more comprehensive evaluation is conducted at least every three years. This evaluation assesses how effective the management system is and whether it needs to be updated for the next three-year period

Swedac assesses certification bodies that wish to become accredited to certify management systems. The assessment covers impartiality, competence, the organization’s own management system, and the certification process. Swedac also evaluates how the work functions in practice, for example by observing on-site audits.

To become accredited, certification bodies must meet the requirements set out in Swedac’s regulations (STAFS) as well as in the standards ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC TS 17021-10.

The standards can be purchased from SIS, the Swedish Standards Institute.

There is also guidance available from the international organizations IAF and EA.

Specific documents for the accreditation scheme

Requirements that must be met for accreditation to be granted

ISO/IEC TS 17021-4:2013 | Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems – Part 4: Competence requirements for auditing and certification of event sustainability management systems

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

SS-ISO 20121:2012 | Event sustainability management systems

General documents for the form of conformity assessment

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

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 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

Specific documents for the accreditation scheme
Requirements that must be met for accreditation to be granted

IAF MD 5:2023 | Determination of Audit Time of Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

SS-EN ISO/IEC 17021-2:2019 | Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems – Part 2: Competence requirements for auditing and certification of environmental management systems

Instructions and guidance for fulfilling accreditation requirements

EA-7/04 M:2017 | Legal Compliance as a Part of Accredited ISO 14001:2004 Certification

IAF ID 1:2023 | IAF Informative Document for QMS and EMS Scopes of Accreditation

IAF ID 14:2023 | Guidance on the Determination of Audit Time for Integrated Audit of Multi-Site Management Systems

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

SS-EN ISO 14001:2015 | Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use

General documents for the form of conformity assessment

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

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 advice on accreditation

Instructions and guidance for fulfilling accreditation requirements

IAF ID 3:2011 | IAF Informative Document for 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