Bid to expand EMAS may weaken reporting rules

Proposals by the European Commission's Environment Directorate, DGXI, to revise the 1993 Regulation which set up the EC eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) were received positively at a meeting of officials from Member States in June. The changes would extend the scheme to non-industrial sectors and improve its compatibility with ISO14001. But some existing provisions have been watered down in a move to make EMAS more inviting to business.