Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Environmental Quality Control.

Ivan Yates

Question:

167 Mr. Yates asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if ISO 9000 awards incorporate adequate environmental quality controls; and the proposals she has to amend the current ISO 9000 procedure. [25065/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

ISO 9000 is a general quality management system standard, which can be used by all industrial and service sectors. The International Standards Organisation – ISO – of which Ireland is a member, through the National Standards Authority of Ireland, and which is based in Geneva, publishes this standard, which is subsequently adopted in its member countries. The ISO 9000 standard is not intended to incorporate environmental quality standards, except where they affect the quality of products.

However, a separate ISO standard, ISO 14001 covers environmental management systems, and was published in 1996 under the title Environmental Management Systems specifications with guidelines for use. The ISO 14000 family of international standards offers a wide-ranging portfolio of standardised testing, sampling and analytic methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It also offers a strategic approach by developing environmental management system standards, which can be implemented in any type of organisation, public or private. I would refer the Deputy to the website of the National Standards Authority of Ireland, www.nsai.ie for further detailed information on this standard.

With regard to the current ISO 9000 standard, this standard has been recently revised and is expected to be published before the end of the year. NSAI has been represented in the revision of ISO 9000, and through a consultative committee process determined Ireland's input to the drafting of the revised standard.