Procedure descriptions

EMAS – Applying for registration and accreditation

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is a European Community scheme for environmental management and environmental auditing. This scheme is designed to help organisations improve their environmental performance. Since 2001, the structure of an environmental management system (EMS) and its processes have also been aligned with ISO 14001 under EMAS.

EMAS is not limited to the manufacturing sector. It is also open to, for example:

  • local authorities and other public administrations
  • church organisations
  • banks
  • Wholesale and retail businesses
  • Schools and universities
  • Hotels and restaurants

The objectives of EMAS are:

  • to raise environmental awareness within the organisation,
  • to make environmental protection an integral part of the organisation’s policy, and
  • to continuously improve environmental performance.

EMAS includes, amongst other things:

  • Environmental reviews: identification of significant environmental impacts
  • Audits: regular, systematic and objective assessment of the system and the organisation’s environmental performance
  • Informing the public about the organisation’s efforts in the field of environmental protection

Responsible authority

the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) responsible for your organisation

Handwerkskammer Freiburg
Industrie- und Handelskammer Südlicher Oberrhein

Details

Prerequisite

  • Conducting an environmental review by the organisation
  • Establishment of an environmental management system
  • Publication of an environmental statement

Procedure

Your organisation must first carry out an environmental review. The purpose of this is to identify the impact your organisation has on the environment. Following the environmental review, your organisation must submit an environmental statement.

The environmental statement is assessed by independent environmental verifiers accredited by the German Accreditation and Licensing Body for Environmental Verifiers (DAU).

If the requirements of the EMAS Regulation are met, the verifier validates the environmental statementäand declare it valid.

Following validation, you must apply for entry in the EMAS register with the chamber responsible for your organisation.

The chamber checks your documents. It informs the lower-level environmental protection authority of the planned registration. The authority has four weeks to comment on the registration.

If the lower-level environmental protection authority does not raise any objections with the chamber, the chamber will assign a registration number to your organisation.

Once registered, you are entitled to use the EMAS logo for promotional purposes for the duration of the registration. In doing so, you must comply with Article 10 and Annex V of the EMAS Regulation. The registration is valid for three or four years.

Deadlines

Ensure you are entered in the EMAS Register as soon as possible after the EMAS validation process has been completed.
Once the validated environmental statement – that is, the one that has been declared valid – is available, you can apply for registration. Before entry into the EMAS Register, the relevant environmental authorities (district offices) are consulted.

Required documents

  • completed application form
  • Description of the business units to be awarded the EMAS logo
  • the environmental statement that has been validated

Costs

are based on

  • the fee rates of the environmental verifier and
  • the fee scales of the relevant professional bodies responsible for entry in the EMAS register

Processing time

The Chamber’s review takes an average of six to eight weeks.

Miscellaneous

Further detailed information on the points mentioned above, as well as funding databases, can be found on the EMAS website.

Legal basis

Verordnung (EG) Nummer 1221/2009 (EMAS III)

Gesetz zur Ausführung der Verordnung (EG) Nummer 1221/2009 - Umweltauditgesetz (UAG)

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Umweltministerium Baden-Württemberg, 01.06.2026