Background on ISO TC 207 – Environmental Management

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formed Technical Committee (TC) 207 in 1993. This committee is tasked with "standardization in the field of environmental management tools and systems." TC 207 has produced a number of standards and guidance documents dealing with environmental issues. The U.S. Technical Advisory Group (U.S. TAG) to TC 207 is part of the ANSI Z1 Committee with the American Society of Quality (ASQ) as the secretariat.

The table below lists some of the standards that have been developed by TC 207.

Links / Contacts

For more information about International Standards Organization go to http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/ISOOnline.frontpage

For more information about TC 207 activities go to www.tc207.org.

Thea Dunmire, JD, CIH, CSP
AIHA Representative to U.S. TAG to TC 207
1 (727) 507-8246
tdunmire@enlar.com

US TAG to TC 207 Update August 2008
The US TAG to TC 207 meeting was held on August 11-12, 2008 in Washington, DC.   A report for this meeting is available below. Highlights of the meeting:

• Work has begun on a number of standards –
  • Revision of ISO 19011 – Management system auditing
  • ISO 14006 – Environmental management systems – Guide on Eco-Design
  • ISO 14051 – Environmental Management – Material flow cost accounting – General principles and framework
• A new work item proposal (NWIP) is anticipated for development of an ISO standard dealing with Carbon Footprint of Products.
• Work is complete on revising ANSI/ISO/ASQ 19011S, the US supplement to ISO 19011.  It was published on May 19, 2008. 
• Work is continuing on the development of ISO 14066.  This standard will establish competency requirements for GHG validators and verifiers. A Committee Draft of this standard is anticipated to be completed by early 2009.
• ANAB has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to create a 3rd party accreditation program for emergency preparedness.
• ANSI is in the process of creating an accreditation program for greenhouse gas verifiers and validators.
• The U.S is the ISO Secretariat for a new standards development effort to write a standard for Energy Management.
• The next US TAG to TC 207 meeting is scheduled for March 16-17, 2009 in Dallas, TX.

• Trip Report 
• NWIP - Ecodesign 
• ISO to develop energy management standard
• ANSI greenhouse gas partnership with CCX 
• ANAB partnership with DHS 

US TAG to TC 207 Update March 2008

The US TAG to TC 207 meeting was held on March 17-18, 2008 in Dallas, TX. A report for this meeting is available below. Highlights of the meeting:

• The five-year systematic review of ISO 14001/14004 was completed and the standards were confirmed.  The next revision of these standards will be done in parallel with the revision of ISO 9001.
• The new work item proposal (NWIP) for the revision of ISO 19011 was approved.  Work on this standard is anticipated to start in May 2008 and involve representatives from a number of management system standard technical committees as well as OH&S representatives.
• Work is complete on revising ANSI/ISO/ASQ 19011S, the US supplement to ISO 19011, and the standard should be published shortly.
• Work has begun on the development of a new standard – ISO 14066.  This standard will establish competency requirements for individuals acting as GHG validators and verifiers. A Committee Draft of this standard is anticipated to be completed by early 2009.
• ISO has approved NWIPs for Material Cost Accounting and Road Traffic Safety Management System.  No U.S. TAG working groups have been established for these standards.
• Committee Drafts of ISO 17021-Part 2 and ISO 14005 are currently out for comment.
• The next US TAG to TC 207 meeting is scheduled for August 11-14, 2008 in Washington DC.

• N856 Annex B NWIP on MFCA  
• N856 Annex A NWIP on MFCA 
• ISO NWIP (Road Transport Safety MSS) 
• N856 submission of NWIP on environmental management material flow cost accounting general principles and framework 
• N244 NWIP revision of ISO 19011 and justification 
• AIHA Report TC 207 Meeting – March 2008 

US TAG to TC 207 Update December 2007

The current ANSI/ISO standard-setting activities are underway:

The revision of ANSI/ISO/ASQ QE 19011S - 2004, Guidelines for Management System Auditing – U.S. Version with supplemental guidance added is nearing completion. The standard is currently undergoing a second round of public comment. This public comment period closes on January 28, 2008. If you are interested in providing comments on this draft standard, please contact ASQ.

The revision of ISO 19011 is beginning. AIHA worked with ASSE to provide comments during the systematic review process to emphasize the importance of appropriate stakeholder input into the proposed revision of the standard. The initial meeting of the international JTCG Taskforce on Auditing was held on November 6, 2007, in Geneva to develop a preliminary draft of the New Work Item Proposal to guide the revision process.

AIHA reviewed and provided comments on the initial committee draft of ISO 31000, Risk Management – Guidelines on principles and implementation of risk management. According to an announcement in the September 28, 2007, issue of ANSI Standards Action, the American Society of Safety Engineers has submitted an application to establish a U.S. Technical Advisory Group to formally participate in this ISO standard-setting effort.

The next U.S. TAG to TC 207 meeting is set for March 17, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. For additional information about this meeting, contact the American Society for Quality at 800-248-1946.

USTAG to TC 207 Update August 2007

The US TAG to TC 207 meeting was held on August 6-7, 2007 in Washington, DC. A report for this meeting is available below. Highlights of the meeting:

• The systematic review of ISO 19011 is complete. NEN (the secretariat and national standard-setting body for the Netherlands) has circulated a report summarizing the results of the systematic review. The NEN report includes a copy of the AIHA/ASSE letter concerning inclusion of OH&S management system auditing within a revised ISO 19011.
• Work will begin shortly on the development of a new standard – ISO 14066 – that will establish competency requirements for individuals acting as GHG validators and verifiers. The first meeting is scheduled for November 2007.
• Ed Pinero (Office of the Federal Environmental Executive) reported on the executive order President Bush issued January 24, 2007 (Executive Order 13423). According to Ed Pinero, this executive order “elevated the use of an EMS” and consolidated other executive orders on environmental issues into a single executive order.  This executive order also revoked the previous executive orders – including Executive Order 13148.
• The United States is interested in the development of an ISO Energy Management Standard as a third-party certification standard.

• NWI Proposal 14066 
• AIHA Report TC 207 Meeting – August 2007 
• NWI Proposal 14066 Annex 
• INEN letter for 19011systematic review - February 2007 
• Executive Order 13423 
• EM Stakeholder Meeting - July 10, 2007