QMS & EMS London

If a manufacturer were to ask its clients how they evaluated goods or services, the three most common metrics would be goods at a fair price, on-time delivery, and quality. Ask which could be most valuable and in all likelihood the most significant response would be quality. When included in the product, quality isn’t a cost but a powerful tool leading to the economic success of the business. 

IEMA launched its position on proposed revisions to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive in April, after a series of 2013 member events.  IEMA’s position recognises the need for mandatory scoping. However, it calls for changes to article 5 (on scoping) to create a developer-led process based on pre-application consultation. By contrast, the European Commission is proposing that planning authorities lead on determining scoping decisions. 

The EIA process, whether or not it results in a statutory environmental statement, has traditionally been seen by some parts of the development sector as just another hoop to jump through in getting a project delivered.  EIA was sometimes considered as the proverbial “spanner in the works” when the masterplan or design was close to completion, complicating things through the introduction of unexpected environmental mitigation measures which could compromise the intended design. 

Third-party audits of environment management systems (EMS) are not capable of providing the level of assurance needed by regulators, say researchers.  Many UKAS-accredited certification bodies lack the knowledge and skills to complete audits of firms to the necessary standard to guarantee legal compliance, according to new research backed by the UK’s environment agencies. Introducing such third-party assurance is seen as a way of reducing the number of regulatory inspections carried out.