Metrosert is the only recognised environmental verifier of conformity with the EMAS Regulation in Estonia. The environmental verifier’s declaration issued by Metrosert certifies that the organisation has implemented and maintains an effective environmental management system that meets the requirements of the EMAS Regulation.

A list of organisations certified by Metrosert

BASIC DOCUMENTS OF VERIFICATION

• Standard ISO/IEC 17021-1
• Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009/EC (the EMAS Regulation), amended by Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1505 and Regulation (EU) No. 2018/2026
• The guidelines of the cooperation organisations of accreditation institutions – the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA).

STAGES OF VERIFICATION

Offer request

The volume of work related to verification is calculated in auditor days based on the number of people working at the organisation, the number of sites and the complexity of the area. An offer is made on the basis of an offer request. An agreement is concluded with the organisation that has agreed to the offer.

EMAS verification offer request

Assessment audit

An assessment audit for assessing conformity with the EMAS Regulation is conducted by a competent team. An assessment audit consists of three stages. The first two stages are focused on assessment of the conformity of the organisation’s environmental management system. In the course of the 1st stage of the audit, the sufficiency of documentation, internal audits and management oversight are assessed, and any possible ambiguities are resolved. A report is presented concerning the 1st stage of the audit, together with a description of the irregularities found.

The 2nd stage of the assessment audit is conducted no later than 3 months after the 1st stage. The aim of the 2nd stage of the assessment audit is to assess the implementation of the organisation’s management system. During the audit, the organisation’s permanent and temporary sites are visited. The findings recorded in the course of the audit are analysed in conjunction with the organisation. This process determines the impact of the findings on the efficiency of the organisation’s activities. The result of the assessment audit is presented to the organisation as a written report. The organisation then has up to 3 months to rectify the irregularities.

The aim of the 3rd stage of the assessment audit is to certify the organisation’s environmental statement.

If the organisation fails to rectify the irregularities within 3 months from the certification audit, the assessment audit is discontinued. The customer is informed of the decision to discontinue the assessment audit in writing, together with the reasons for the decision. If the customer wishes to continue the assessment, a new assessment process will start.

Issue of environmental verifier’s declarations

The declaration is issued upon rectifying the irregularities found during the assessment audit and the verification of the environmental statement. During the validity of the declaration, the conformity of the organisation with requirements is checked in regular supervisory audits. A certificate of conformity with the EMAS Regulation is issued by the Environment Agency managed by the Ministry of the Environment on the basis of the EMAS verifier’s declaration.

Supervisory audits

The supervisory audits held during the validity of the EMAS certificate are conducted upon agreement with the organisation at an interval of 12 or 24 months. The result of the supervisory audit is presented to the organisation as a written report. The organisation has up to 3 months to rectify the irregularities found.

Renewal of declarations

The validity of the EMAS certificate can be extended after every three years. A new assessment audit is conducted in order to extend the validity.

Extension or restriction of the assessed area

Metrosert may restrict the extent of assessment in the following cases:

• the customer is unable to rectify irregularities that have been classified as significant within the granted term;
• the customer has submitted a respective request.

If the customer is unable to rectify irregularities that have been classified as significant within the granted term, the restriction of the extent of assessment must be considered. Restrictions may be applied to the extent that does not affect the overall conformity of the assessment given to the customer with requirements.
The organisation has the right to request the extension or restriction of the assessed area in the case of changes in products, processes, service or production location or in order to fulfil the requirements of another standard. Upon new sites being added, the sampling rules shall be added to the new sites independent of the number of the organisation’s assessed sites, and the new sites shall be added to the others after the assessment audit.

In order to have the assessed area extended, the organisation submits the documentation concerning the area related to the extension, including an updated environmental statement. Metrosert assesses the conformity of the documentation with the data presented in the extension request and conducts an audit to the extent of the area of extension. In the case of a positive decision, the updated environmental statement is verified and a new environmental verifier’s declaration is issued.

Upon restricting the assessed area, the updated environmental statement is verified and a new environmental verifier’s declaration is issued.

Short notice audits

Metrosert may, if necessary, carry out audits at short notice (up to three days) or without prior notice:

• to investigate complaints;
• to respond to changes that have taken place at the customer.

The Head of the Certification Division appoints auditors to conduct such an audit. An audit is aimed at investigating the circumstances that called for the audit. Depending on the results of the audit, the certification institution shall decide on further action until the cancellation of the assessment results.

METROSERT’S ACCREDITATIONS

EMAS verifier’s certificate EE-V-0001

 

FURTHER INFOMRATION

AS Metrosert’s Certification Division
sertifitseerimine@metrosert.ee