Europe on the forefront of standardization for sustainability and traceability of cocoa beans

The market for sustainable products and services increases in Europe and is currently catered for private initiatives. Yet, no European standards exist for traceable and sustainable cocoa. Pressure comes also from Public authorities in the context of public procurement to purchase only products labelled as ‘sustainable’ and ‘traceable’. At the same time, the European market of chocolate represents 21.6 billion euros. In 2016, the European Union Members exported about 2 million tons of chocolate. The EU countries have imported 1.7 million tons of cocoa beans, most of them coming from Africa (Eurostat figures: Ivory Coast, 720 000 tons; Ghana, 340 000 tons; and Cameroon, 140 000 tons).

European chocolate producers and European consumers are also concerned about sustainable production of high-quality cocoa, asking for high standards. The questions of quality, sustainability and traceability need to be tackled to harmonize cocoa production practices: uniformed procedures, defining what sustainability in the cocoa sector means, reach a common understanding, etc. We therefore need Standards to ensure good agricultural practices, the protection of the environment, and the improvement of the social conditions and lives of farmers. They will be of use to all parties involved in the cocoa supply chain from the farmers to the purchasers of cocoa. The standardization efforts aim at unifying requirements for cocoa supply chain with a view of improving its effectiveness and creating transparency and fair competition.

In 2012, CEN established CEN/TC 415 – a Technical Committee to develop standards for sustainable cocoa. Over time, a corresponding ISO body – ISO/TC 34/SC 18 – was created. Currently, CEN and ISO are jointly working on the development of four standards in support of Sustainability and Traceability of Cocoa beans:

prEN ISO 34101-1 ‘Sustainable and traceable cocoa beans – Part 1: Requirements for sustainability management systems’.

rEN ISO 34101-2 ‘Sustainable and traceable cocoa beans – Part 2: Requirements for performance (related to economic, social and environmental aspects)’.

prEN ISO 34101-3 ‘Sustainable and traceable cocoa beans – Part 3: Requirements for traceability’.

prEN ISO 34101-4 ‘Sustainable and traceable cocoa beans – Part 4: Requirements for certification schemes’.

CEN Technical Committee TC/415 on ‘Sustainable and Traceable Cocoa’ is developing this series of standards under the secretariat of our Danish Member, DS. The work is carried out together with ISO/TC 34/SC 18 on ‘Cocoa’, which is jointly managed by ISO members from the Ivory Coast (CODINORM), Ghana (GSA) and the Netherlands (NEN). These standards are developed with a strong presence of cocoa-producing countries.

Cocoa-related standards are expected to be published at the end of 2017 to support cocoa farmers and other parties involved.

最近，澳大利亚标准协会（SA）正在对AS1428.4.2导向标识的可达性与机动性设计草案进行公开评议。

该项标准目前正在以可以访问的PDF和DAISY格式制作，这些格式旨在通过常用的屏幕阅读软件进行阅读。

如果您想获得可访问的草案副本，请发送邮件至mail@standards.org.au，您也可以拨打(02) 9237 6000，向标准信息服务部（Standards Information Services）获取更多资讯。

 ​Wayfinding Standard (AS 1428.4.2) accessible public comment procedure

Standards Australia is releasing a draft of AS1428.4.2, Design for access and mobility Wayfinding, for a period of public comment.

This standard is being produced in Accessible PDF and DAISY formats, which are designed to be read with commonly available screen reading software.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the accessible drafts, please email mail@standards.org.au.

Alternatively, you can call Standards Information Services at (02) 9237 6000 for more information.

New ISO handbook brings environmental management to SMEs

Implementing an environmental management system can be challenging for small businesses. ISO’s new handbook has been designed to assist SMEs in improving their environmental performance using ISO 14001.

The benefits of addressing environmental issues are not only linked to the protection of the environment, they can also be found in a company’s business performance and profitability. The handbook ISO 14001:2015, Environmental management systems – A practical guide for SMEs has recently been updated to take into account the latest edition of the standard, published in 2015.

ISO 14001:2015 in figures

.   Implemented in more than 180 countries

.   More than 300 000 certificates issued worldwide at end 2015

.   8 % increase in certifications compared to 2014

Susan L. K. Briggs, the author of the handbook and leader of the ISO/TC 207/SC 1/WG 5, the group that led the revision of this standard, says: “With the revised standard being issued, several new requirements were incorporated such as a focus on the organizational context, risks and opportunities, and leadership requirements. To facilitate expanded uptake of this standard, it was important to demystify these concepts for small and medium-sized enterprises that are by far the most numerous organizations in most economies, particularly as many companies increasingly insist that ISO 14001 requirements are respected within the supply chain.”

For SMEs, implementing an environmental management system can be a real challenge as technical and financial resources, in addition to staff time, is often limited. “I hope this handbook, which contains technical expertise, tools, templates and lessons learned from implementing these systems myself, will support SMEs in conforming to the requirements. The hope is to reduce the financial burden of hiring technical experts… but SMEs will still need to invest time,” says Briggs.

“The key for SME success is to leverage their informal management structures and decision-making processes, not replace them with overly complex and bureaucratic methods.” The author sums it up in a nutshell: “The standard provides the ‘what’, while the handbook provides the ‘how’. ISO 14001 is a set of environmental management requirements that an organization must satisfy. The handbook provides practical help, examples and guidance on how to meet those requirements.”

Although the handbook has been designed with SMEs in mind, organizations of all sizes will find the information helpful when implementing or upgrading their environmental management system to ISO 14001:2015.

Acting ISO Secretary-General Nicolas Fleury comments: “We hope that this new edition destined to help achieve the benefits of ISO 14001 will be of practical use to small businesses, whatever their activity and wherever they may be in the world, but especially in developing countries and economies in transition. ISO 14001:2015 is a tool that helps support the Paris climate agreement and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that make up the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is our hope that this handbook will encourage further uptake of the standard, helping organizations to mitigate their environmental impact.”

ISO 14001 is one of a number of International Standards that help support better environmental management and tackle climate change. Other ISO standards focus on the management of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and helping organizations report their GHG emissions or reductions in order to comply with applicable national regulatory requirements, participate in the carbon emissions trading market or demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Benefits of ISO 14001:2015 for SMEs

Small businesses can achieve the same results from environmental management as larger companies. Having an ISO 14001 management system in place:

.   Enhances business practices

.   Minimizes environmental impacts while increasing productivity

.   Affords a competitive edge, opening new business opportunities

.   Improves operational efficiency and saves costs, particularly with regard to energy consumption and waste management

.   Gives credibility and confidence to regulatory agencies and other interested parties, including customers

Incentives for implementing ISO 14001 differ from country to country; they can range from decreased inspection frequency to lower insurance premiums or government subsidies.

Organizational resilience made simple with new ISO standard

Resilience is the key for any business wanting to thrive in an ever-changing world. A new standard just published will help put organizations in a better position to meet the challenges ahead.

Climate change, economic crises and consumer trends are just some of the pitfalls that can dramatically affect the way an organization does business and survives. Organizational resilience is a company’s ability to absorb and adapt to that unpredictability, while continuing to deliver on the objectives it is there to achieve.

A new standard, ISO 22316, Security and resilience – Organizational resilience – Principles and attributes, provides a framework to help organizations future-proof their business, detailing key principles, attributes and activities that have been agreed on by experts from all around the world.

James Crask, Convenor of ISO/TC 292’s working group WG 2, the group of experts that developed the standard, says improving the resilience of organizations ensures they are not only better placed for anticipating and responding to potential risks, but can harness opportunities as well.

“The standard takes a wide view of the things that can drive resilience in an organization; many of these are behavioural and have historically been overlooked. This is why one of the key principles of the standard is to help them develop a culture that supports resilience.

“It also involves building upon existing forms of risk management, having shared values and an awareness of changing contexts, all the while underpinned by strong and empowered leadership.”

ISO 22316 was developed by working group WG 2, Continuity and organizational resilience, of technical committee ISO/TC 292, Security and resilience, whose secretariat is held by SIS, the ISO member for Sweden.

Guidelines for optimizing use of management consultancies just published

From improving processes to boosting profits, management consultancies can make a huge difference to the organizations they work with. Clarity and transparency are the keys to success -for both parties. A new standard just published aims to help.

Offering specialist sector knowledge and experience, it is no wonder more and more organizations are turning to management consultancies. Whether it be bringing a product to market, training staff or advising on an organizational overhaul, management consultancies offer a wide range of services and support. Their use has grown dramatically in recent years as businesses and governments look to improve their performance and processes.

ISO 20700, Guidelines for management consultancy services, draws on research and experience from a wide range of management consultancies worldwide and aims to increase transparency and effectiveness for both client and consultancy.

Robert Bodenstein, Chair of ISO/PC 280, Management Consultancy, the ISO project committee that developed the standard, whose secretariat is held by UNI, ISO’s member for Italy, said that it brings together industry best practice to help make management consultancies more effective.

“Management consultancies can bring valuable expertise to an organization, with their in-depth knowledge and broad experience of an industry, to help clients bring about growth or change more effectively. In this way, they make a strong contribution to the economy,” he said.

“This new standard is aimed at not only helping consultancies work even more effectively and efficiently, but helping with the development of the profession.”

ISO 20700 gives practical guidelines based on outcomes and emphasizes the importance of understanding clients’ needs. It is useful to all management consultancies, regardless of size, and maintains a focus on innovation, differentiation and ethical behaviour. It is also useful for clients in that it helps them better understand what they can expect from a management consultant in a consultancy project.

International standard on occupational health and safety reaches second draft for public comment stage

BSI, the business standards company, has published the second draft of ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements.

The yet-to-be launched international standard specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, with guidance for its use, to enable an organization to provide safe and healthy working conditions for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health.

The latest draft is now available on the BSI shop, ahead of the formal commenting period which beings on 19 May. From this date the draft will be accessible, enabling those with an interest to submit comment: http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030358994

Two million people die yearly from work-related incidents and the number of people suffering life altering health conditions caused by their work is exponentially higher. These harrowing figures are in spite of widespread adoption of International Labour Standards, indicating a pressing need for a standard specifically designed to ensure organizations manage the risk and improve their OH&S to protect workers at all levels.

ISO 45001 includes the development and implementation of an OH&S policy and objectives which take into account applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes.

The international standard will help provide a single, clear framework for organizations of all types and sizes who wish to improve their OH&S performance and protect those working on their behalf or who may be affected by the organization’s activities. This includes any organization beyond that of sole trader – and those organizations working with multiple contractors, multiple sites, volunteers or temporary staff, etc.

Benefits of ISO 45001 include:

A single internationally-agreed standard suitable for all organizations worldwide

Alignment with other key management system standards

Requirements which direct organizations to design a management system uniquely suited to each organization’s occupational health and safety needs

ISO 45001 has been developed using a collaborative, consensus-based approach, taking into account the views of large and small organizations, government bodies, trades unions and worker representative organizations. It will eventually replace OHSAS 18001, an existing standard which sets out the minimum requirements for occupational health and safety management best practice. Although OHSAS 18001 is widely used both in the UK and internationally it is not a full international standard.

Anne Hayes, Head of Governance and Resilience at BSI, oversees the sector which develops health and safety standards.

Anne Hayes, Head of Governance and Resilience at BSI, has engaged with BSI’s core markets regarding ISO 45001. She said: “Occupational health and safety is a serious matter for all businesses worldwide, regardless of their size or sector. BSI is proud to be involved with developing a clear framework for businesses wishing to maintain or improve safety within their workplaces.

“It is important that ISO 45001 works in alignment with other management system standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Therefore the common text and structure in which ISO 45001 is written will ensure these management system standards are broadly aligned."

The international committee which developed ISO 45001 includes experts from over 50 countries and 20 liaison bodies, all with knowledge and practical experience of occupational health and safety issues and the challenges faced. The new standard is based on the core structure and common text developed by ISO for all of its management system standards (MSS), taking into account the requirements of the current OHSAS 18001, other national standards (including those from the US, China and Canada) and the ILO instruments – OH&S guidelines adopted by hundreds of countries across the world.

Publication of the final standard is anticipated towards the end of 2017. 

Sustainable procurement in supply chains addressed by new international standard

BSI, the business standards company, has launched ISO 20400:2017 Sustainable procurement – Guidance. Designed to assist organizations to meet their sustainability responsibilities, ISO 20400 outlines what sustainable procurement is, and how an organization can implement sustainable procurement practically.

The overarching concern of the new international standard is to make the supply chain integral to an organization’s sustainability goals. ISO 20400 outlines in detail the sustainability impacts and considerations that should be incorporated across the different aspects of procurement activity, and is applicable to any organization, either public or private, irrespective of its size or location.

ISO 20400 replaces BS 8903:2010 Principles and framework for procuring sustainably. Guide, and one of the key changes in the new standard is a section dealing specifically with integrating sustainability into the procurement process. It has been updated to take into consideration new concepts such as life cycle analysis, due diligence, complicity and global cost.

With organizations increasingly driven to demonstrate their environmental, social and economic impact, adoption of ISO 20400 is a tangible signal that the organization prioritizes sustainable procurement as integral to its day-to-day operations. Supply chains are a critical consideration for any organization aiming to bolster their environmental credentials, and adopting ISO 20400 would likely boost the reputation of an organization amongst their customers, stakeholders and the wider public.

David Fatscher, Head of Market Development for Sustainability at BSI, said: “As the need for supply chain transparency grows, the global benefits of sustainable procurement are more evident than ever. ISO 20400 has captured best practice from experts from over 40 countries on six continents and delivers a global solution to a global challenge. It has been closely modelled on the existing British standard BS 8903, which should place UK organizations at an advantage in its early adoption.”

Sectors particularly likely to benefit from implementing ISO 20400 include construction; facilities management; hospitality; catering; clothing; food; public procurement; manufacturing; timber; print and paper; and packaging.

Users most likely to benefit from ISO 20400 include senior procurement and purchasing professionals; commercial directors; finance directors; contract, tender and supply managers; supply chain managers; sustainability managers; environment/waste managers; operations managers; and facilities managers.

Importantly, while the standard outlines how an organization can integrate efficient procurement steps into its existing procurement methods, it does not make recommendations for changing the procurement methods themselves. 

As well as experts from over 40 participating countries, ISO 20400 was created with additional input from leading international organizations including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC); Independent International Organization for Certification; and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). 

 -4月20日，产品安全审议委员会对事故预防安全标准修改案进行审议-

□产业通商资源部国家技术标准署（署长郑东熙）于2017年4月20日组织召开产品安全审议委员会会议，邀请与会专家就家具、汽车玻璃清洁液（玻璃水）等产品的安全标准修正案进行审议。

□本次会议中审议的产品，均为去年消费者认为会造成人身危害或易引发事故的产品。为降低此类产品的影响、提高产品的安全系数，国标院召开了本次审议委员会。

○家具方面，去年发生抽屉柜倾倒，对儿童造成伤害的事件出现的频率增高，但韩国国内没有相应标准规定，因此采用了美国的相关标准，对产品进行了安全系数调查并（对有问题的产品）进行了召回。

○玻璃清洁液方面，玻璃水在使用时，其中的甲醇成分可能会进入车厢内部对人体造成伤害，消费者对此表示了忧虑。

□国家技术标准署从消除消费者顾虑的角度出发，从去年下半年开始就安全标准修订问题进行了多次审议，收集有关各方的意见，并公布了立案预告。本次修订的安全标准主要事项如下：

○鉴于儿童有攀爬的可能性，因此要求家具中高度超过762mm的抽屉柜在负重23kg时 ，也不会发生倾倒。

*鉴于儿童有攀爬的可能性，引用美国ASTM规则。

○汽车用玻璃清洁液甲醇含量不能超过0.6%。

○鉴于百叶窗易引发窒息事故，因此百叶窗下端应距地面80cm以上。

*但是，在百叶窗使用固定装置时，百叶窗下端应距地面120cm以上。

Seeking comments on go-karts standard

The Australian Standard AS 3533.4.4, Amusement rides and devices—Specific requirements—Concession go-karts, is now open for a third round of public comment.

 The current draft was developed following further consultation with the go-kart industry and the relevant technical committee ME-051, Amusement Rides and Devices. 

 Following this consultation a new draft of AS 3533.4.4 was developed. Key changes to the draft include:

• Provisions covering crash test protocol are now informative, providing recommendations rather than necessary requirements • Performance requirements are separated from test criteria and test methods

 Public comment ensures that the broader community has an opportunity to review the draft prior to completion. We encourage everyone with an interest to comment on the document. 

 Instructions on how to submit a comment can be found through this link. The closing date for public comment is 19 June 2017.