The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary environmental management instrument, which was developed in 1993 by the European Commission. It enables organizations to assess, manage and continuously improve their environmental performance. The scheme is globally applicable and open to all types of private and public organizations. In order to register with EMAS, organisations must meet the requirements of the EU EMAS-Regulation. Currently, more than 4,600 organisations and more than 7,900 sites are EMAS registered. Regulation: structure The EU EMAS Regulation entails 52 Articles and 8 Annexes: Chapter I: General provisions Chapter II: Registration of organisations Chapter III: Obligations of registered organisations Chapter IV: Rules applicable to Competent Bodies Chapter V: Environmental verifier's Chapter VI: Accreditation and Licensing Bodies Chapter VII: Rules applicable to Member States Chapter VIII: Rules applicable to the Commission Chapter IX: Final provisions Annex I: Environmental review Annex II: Environmental management system requirements (based on EN ISO 14001:2004) and additional issues to be addressed by organisations implementing EMAS Annex III: Internal environmental audit Annex IV: Environmental reporting Annex V: EMAS logo Annex VI: Information requirements for registration Annex VII: Environmental verifier's declaration on verification and validation activities Annex VIII: Correlation table (EMAS II/EMAS III) Although EMAS is an official EU Regulation, it is binding only for organisations which voluntarily decide to implement the scheme. The EMAS Regulation includes the environmental management system requirements of the international standard for environmental management, ISO 14001, and additional requirements for EMAS registered organisations such as employee engagement, ensuring legal compliance or the publication of an environmental statement. Because of its additional requirements, EMAS is known as the premium instrument for environmental management. Implementation In order to register with EMAS an organisation must comply with the following implementation steps (Article 4 of the EMAS-Regulation): Environmental review: initial comprehensive analysis of the organization's activities, products and services and their environmental impact; cataloging applicable environmental law, etc. Environmental policy: definition of the organisation's overarching environmental objectives; commitment to continuous improvement of environmental performance. Environmental program: description of measures, responsibilities and means to achieve environmental objectives and targets. Environmental management system: part of an organisation's management entailing structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy and managing the environmental aspects. Environmental audit: systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of the organisation's environmental performance, management system and processes designed to protect the environment,