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Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of policy measures, management actions, operating procedures, documentation and record keeping with defined responsibilities and accountability of personnel within an organisation. It is a system that aims at the integration of environmental management issues with the overall management functions of an organisation. It is a problem identification and problem solving tool, which can be implemented in an organisation in different ways, depending on the needs and objectives of an organisation. Like in case of quality management, the keywords for EMS are : "Plan, Act, Check and Improve". ISO – 14001 is a certification for adoption of Environmental Management System developed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO).      ISO – 14001 certification helps to build a " green image " and serves the business interests. It has already become a de facto pre-requisite for export market. Driven by the trade considerations and benefits of green image, ISO – 14001 certification has gained coinage throughout the world.     In India, 140 companies mostly in the large industrial sector have obtained ISO – 14001 certification. However , the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not coming forward. In view of this fact that the SMEs constitute a sizeable share of export market, it is necessary to encourage them for adoption of EMS and certification thereof. It will have an added benefit of controlling pollution through self-regulation in the SME sector. Also, it will lessen the pressure on the Pollution Control Boards for enforcement of pollution control measures particularly in the SME sector.     To derive the benefits of ISO – 14001 and to ensure compliance of regulatory norms for pollution control, it is necessary to adopt ISO – 14001 PLUS approach as already practised in some countries. Alongside, it is also necessary to create or designate a National Accreditation Body in the country and enlist competent groups of environmental auditors and certifying agencies.      In this issue of Parivesh, an attempt has been made in the form of queries and response relating to ISO – 14001 requirements for an effective Environmental Management System through amalgamation of self-regulation and command and control approach. I am grateful to my erstwhile colleague Ms. Usha Ghosh for her contribution in bringing out this issue.

Dilip Biswas                                                                                                                         Chairman, CPCB