Indonesia to introduce own version of ISO-14000

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to introduce Indonesia's own version of ISO-14000, an international management standard award which incorporates the way companies observe their environmental obligations, starting next year.

The Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) is currently working out the criteria necessary to meet the standard, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said yesterday as reported by Antara.

Sarwono, who also chairs Bapedal, explained that while Indonesia will impose its own criteria, "they will still refer to those used by ISO".

The ISO is an international accreditation system that acknowledges the recipient companies as having met certain standards. Various Indonesian companies have already received the ISO-9000 accreditation, but none have met the tougher ISO-14000 standards which incorporate environmental considerations.

Sarwono noted that other countries have developed their own environmental management standards, citing the British Standard 7750 and the Eco Management and Audit Scheme of the European Union. The Netherlands, Canada and Australia have also introduced their own versions, he added.

"Indonesia will have its own accreditation and certification system which is tied to the ISO's 14000 series. We do not have to follow the system adopted by other countries," he said when opening a course for environmental auditors.

He added that the accreditation system would remain "voluntary" in nature.

The ISO-14000 would incorporate environmental management systems, environmental audits, environmental labeling and environmental preservation evaluations. The series was introduced in view of the increasing prominence given to environmental considerations in international trade.

Sarwono said Bapedal should complete the environmental management and auditing systems next year. They will be applied by the middle of 1996.

The five-day workshop for 24 participants was jointly organized by Resource Development Consultants (Redecon) and the Environmental Auditor Registration Association.

Redecon President Ismid Hadad said his company organizes the course periodically to prepare environmental auditors in accordance with the demands of ISO-14000.

Meanwhile, Bapedal's Deputy for Environmental Impact Management P.L. Coutrier said the introduction of ISO-14000 system would be to the advantage of everyone -- the government, the business world and those concerned with environment.

For the government, the system bodes well for sustainable development which it is trying to promote.

For the business community, ISO-14000 should be regarded as one way of getting a competitive edge and a means of enhancing their image. (emb)