Certification of the Environmental Management System

Protecting the surrounding environment must represent one of the objectives of each company, taking into consideration the fact that once Romania has adhered to the European Union, there will be new constrains in this respect.

The incorporation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) does not apply only for large or international organizations. The EMS may be implemented within SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), service suppliers, public institutions, etc.

There are already many organisations that have implemented and certified an Environmental Management System. It is likely that the integration of Romania within the European Union may introduce the obligatory requirement for many companies to certify such a system.

The certification body EMS of SIMTEX-OC is accredited since 2002 by RENAR (Romanian Accreditation Association) and in 2005, SIMTEX-OC renewed its accreditation, for all the activity domains included in the NACE code.

What exactly does this certification process consist in and how long does it last?

The stages of the certification body are described systematically in this document.

Which are the procedures based on which SIMTEX – the Certification Body for Environmental Management Systems functions?

The functioning of this accredited body is based on the procedures documented in accordance with ISO 17021.

What is the standard accepted in Romania for the certification of an Environmental Management system (EMS)?

Presently, in Romania, the certification of an EMS is carried out in accordance with the standard SR EN ISO 14001:2005.

Which are the requirements of SIMTEX-OC for the staff that form the audit teams?

Each environmental auditor of SIMTEX-OC is carefully selected function of his/her qualification, training and experience in the domain and function of the complexity degree of the activity domain in which the EMS is to be certified.

Within the certification process of EMS, SIMTEX-OC uses only competent staff, evaluated according to its own assessment procedures, which comply with the requirements of the international standards ISO 17021 and SR EN ISO 19011:2003.

What is the validity period of a certificate?

For the organization whose EMS has been certified, SIMTEX-OC grants a certificate for a 3-year validity period.

Which are the advantages of an organisation that already has implemented a system (e.g. the Quality Management System – ISO 9001) when the organisation wishes the certification of the Environmental Management System as well?

Many organizations that already have a certified Quality Management System (in accordance with ISO 9001), may choose to integrate the future Environmental Management System with the existing one. In over 95% of the cases, the advantage of the integration of management systems is that time, work and money are saved. That is why, SIMTEX-OC recommends the integration of the management systems where there is already an implemented system.

Which are the advantages of the EMS certification for an organization?

1. Image and public relations improvement.
2. Gaining new commodity markets
3. Gaining trust of the interested parties, including that of the authorities
4. Fulfilment of potential auction criteria
5. Ensuring the partners and clients that the legislation in the field is respected
6. Reducing the consumption of energy, water and of all resources, in general
7. Gaining the local community trust concerning the policy for environment protection
8. Reducing the incidents that involve the organization’s legal liability
9. Simplification of the necessary steps for obtaining the environmental agreements and authorizations
10. Increasing the presence on the market, especially on the international market
11. The conditions for granting insurances and loans may become advantageous.
12. Improvement of the employees’ work conditions
13. Fulfilment of the present market requirements regarding the manufacture of ecological products

Which are the advantages of the certification of the Environmental Management System with SIMTEX-OC?

1. SIMTEX-OC accreditation for the certifications in all the domains of the NACE Code.
2. The vast professional experience of our auditors both in the organization’s activity domain and in the assessment domain (auditing).
3. Informing the organisations on the financing programmes and on the participation conditions to these programmes which reduce significantly the cost of the certification.
4. Publishing the list of the certified societies on the web page of the certification body (the site is visited by thousands of people)
5. Guarantee of free and non-discriminating access to certification.
6. Confidentiality of the information obtained in the certification process.

Which are the stages to be followed for obtaining the certification of the Environmental Management System (EMS)?

1. Initiation of the certification process (contacting SIMTEX-OC for the certification)
2. Initial assessment (document review and visit on site)
3. Assessment of the environmental management system (audit on site)
4. Assessment of the certification file within the Certification Operative Committee of SIMTEX-OC, with a view to grant the certification.
5. Granting the certification for the environmental management system.
   Note: The certificate is granted only if the organization complies with all the requirements regarding the certification specified for each stage of the certification process in accordance with the “General Rules for the Certification of the Environmental Management Systems”, code RG.
6. Annual surveillance.
7. Renewal of certification.

Each stage of the certification process is finalised with written documents, based on which the certification decision is made: Initial Assessment Report, Report of audit on site, Summary of Assessment.

How does the certification begin?

In order that the certification process can be initiated, you have to address to SIMTEX-OC, in writing, no.10A, Ramuri Tei Street, sector 2, postal code 020354, PO 13-138, Bucharest or by accessing this form (click here). We are prepared to offer you the documents (the official request and the preliminary assessment questionnaire) for the initiation of the certification process and further information regarding the certification of the Environmental Management System. In order to obtain a price offer as soon as possible, it is necessary for you to send the preliminary questionnaire completed.