Much experience of EMAS has been gained since the adoption of the Regulation, which is now in the process of being revised. "Old" EMAS has taken off at a reasonable rate (847 registered sites and 204 verifiers at the end of June 1997) and has shown both some benefits and some difficulties and/or shortcomings. The revision process leading to a new" EMAS involves ad hoc meetings and a series of consultation seminars with the various interested actors in the Member States. Current discussions, which centre on the need to improve the efficiency of EMAS and increase the participation of companies, suggests a need for some clarification of provisions which have presented barriers and difficulties. Beyond any technical differences, the issues at stake include the credibility of the commitment to continuous improvement of a company's environmental performance any technical differences, the issues at stake include the credibility of the commitment to continuous improvement of a company's environmental performance (the international standard on environmental management systems). The latter would involve extending the scope of the Regulation from "site" to company level, from "manufacturing" industry to "services" and from "processes" to "products". A further aspect for revision is the improvement of the accreditation aspects while guaranteeing their credibility and refining adequately the requirements relating to the environmental statement. At the centre of the debate on revision is the need to emphasise the dynamic on revision is the need to emphasise the dynamic promote the elements that will make it "attractive". Revising the contents of the environmental statement will be of key importance as a catalyst for change.
European Energy and Environmental Law Review