Our Environmental TasksSwedac operates in various fields for the protection of air, land and water. The goal is to minimise negative impact on the environment. In this folder we list areas where Swedac works with accreditation, conformity assessment and legal metrology. Government authorities often impose requirements for accreditation. In several areas the market demands products and services that are certified by accredited certification bodies.

SWEDAC INFO 14:3

Environment

photo: Johan Mikaelsson

1. Exhaust fumes from vehicles The Swedish Transport AgencyExhaust meters determine the percentages of certain substances in exhaust fumes from vehicle motors. Swedac verifies that accredited car repair workshops and accred-ited vehicle inspection bodies use exhaust gauges to check that no limits are exceeded. This contributes to keeping down the percentages of pollutants in the air. Swedac has regulatory responsibility for the measurement equipment used in emission control. Check-ups on newer cars are done electronically to determine environmental fitness.

2. NoiseThe Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Noise is a widespread environmental problem. Swedac ac-credits laboratories that perform noise measurement.

3. Storage tanksThe Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) MSB is the regulatory government authority for hand-ling inflammable liquids. Verification that storage tanks meet the requirements imposed is done by accredited in-spection bodies. They for example measure the thickness of the walls in the tank, to eliminate the risk of oil leaking out into the ground or the water.

4. Organic production The Swedish Board of Agriculture and The Swedish National Food Administration Swedac is responsible for accrediting certification bodies that in turn perform certification of organic production.

Among the goals of organic farming is attaining sustain-able food production, which is beneficial to both animals and the environment. Chemical pesticides, for example, may not be used in organic farming. Animals shall further-more be cared for in an ethically defensible way.

5. EMAS regulationsEU/The Swedish Environmental Management Council/The market EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) is the sys-tem in the European Union for voluntary environmental management and auditing. The system uses ISO 14001 as management system and requires such things as certified businesses releasing a public environmental accounting to be reviewed.

6. Energy performance reports for buildings The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building, and Planning In Europe, building owners shall report on the energy performance of the building in accordance with EU direc-tives. The aim is to provide stimulus for measures that reduce energy consumption, and in this way slow the greenhouse effect. Energy experts must be certified by an accredited personnel certification body.

7. Energy management systems and more effective energy useThe market and the Swedish Energy Agency Energy-intensive businesses that participate in the ‘Pro-gram for effective energy use in energy-intensive indus-try’ (PFE) can receive reduced energy taxes on electricity. One of the conditions is that the business shall have a certified energy management system in accordance with Standard SS-EN ISO 50001.

8. Energy Star Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – USA Energy Star is a voluntary programme that helps busi-nesses and private individuals save money and reduce their impact on the climate through using energy-efficient appliances. Testing and certification of the product by a third-party body according to regulations is required for a manufacturer to be able to use the label. The tests are carried out according to established methods and base values we produce; they cover a great number of prod-ucts (from heat exchangers to battery chargers). Swedac accredits laboratories that perform tests according to Energy Star regulations.

9. Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) The Swedish Ministry of the Environment and The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Devices that contain F-gases, or ozone-depleting sub-stances, shall undergo regular annual inspection to prevent leakage. The inspection may only be performed by a business that has a certified team leader. This person is certified by an accredited certification body that meets Swedac requirements.

Our environmental tasks SWEDAC INFO 14:3 Environment

photo: Bilprovningen

10. Greenhouse gas emission license trading EU, The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and The Swedish Energy Agency In its national legislation, Sweden has introduced re-quirements in accordance with EU directive 2003/87/EC. The directive imposes quality assurance requirements on measuring and/or calculating the amounts of carbon dioxide released. The amounts released shall be reported to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Energy Agency. Accredited verifiers make sure that everything takes place correctly.

11. International environmental influenceSwedac takes active part in projects in a number of countries. It is often a question of building up quality infrastructure. The work of accreditation bodies and accredited laboratories in various fields are of benefit to the environment. Collaboration and exchange of experi-ences takes place constantly in a range of international conferences that have environmental issues on the agenda. In the Baltic Sea Project, there is collaboration on such things as harmonisation of accreditation of certifica-tion bodies that verify greenhouse gas emissions.

12. Environment management systemsThe market Certification of environmental management systems in accordance with ISO 14001 puts the environment in focus. The business formulates goals starting from its own analysis of its environmental impact. Certification to ISO 14001 can be combined with registration in accordance with EMAS.

13. Air pollution The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and The Swedish Maritime Administration Pollution in the air is detrimental to both the environ-ment and health. Swedac accredits laboratories that measure air pollution in emissions from plants and facto-ries. The Swedish Maritime Administration has a system with differentiated channel fees for vessels. The fee is determined by the sulphur content of the fuel and nitro-gen dioxide emissions. Sulphur analyses and emissions

measurements are car-ried out by accredited laboratories.

14. Land The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency In the construction of

new buildings, for example, there is often a need to know if the ground is polluted. Soil samples are analysed by accredited laboratories.

15. Environmental audits The market When an accredited certification body performs cer-tification of an environmental auditor, the applicant’s

competence is assured. An examination can include both theoretical and practical sections. During the period of the certificate’s validity, the competence of the environ-mental auditors is watched over by the certification body. An updated examination is taken when the certificate is to be extended.

16. Environmental product declarations The Swedish Environmental Management Council Environmental product declarations provide easily ac-cessible, quality-assured, and comparable information on the environmental impact of products and services, starting from life-cycle analyses. They can be used as a source of information in raw material supply chains and in procurement and purchasing. The EPD, or Environ-mental Product Declaration, is an informational system for factual descriptions of the environmental qualities of products and services. Swedac accredits the certification bodies.

17. Gauges Swedac Swedac is responsible for specifying the requirements for gauges for water, heat, and electricity. The gauges are inspected by accredited inspection bodies. Charging customers for the correct amount of electricity contrib-utes in the long run to the more efficient use of energy and resources. Lower consumption of energy reduces the burden on the environment.

18. Oil separators The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Oil that leaks out into the sewer and reaches municipal waste-water treatment plants amounts to an environ-mental problem. The operation of the treatment plant is negatively affected when oil, petrol, and other fuels get into the system. Accreditation of inspection bodies that regularly inspect oil separators contributes to reducing the burden on municipal treatment works. Septic tanks, fat and oil separators, and sludge collectors shall ad-ditionally be type approved by an accredited inspection body.

Environment SWEDAC INFO 14:3 Our environmental tasks

photo: Hans Alm

19. Forest certification – PEFCThe market PEFC, the Programme for the Endorse-ment of Forest Certification Schemes, is a European system for the certifica-tion and environmental labelling of products from private forestry, where the environment, finances, and social aspects are taken into consideration. PEFC is an open system where certifi-cation is performed by an independent

third-party body accredited by Swedac.

20. Radiation The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority Swedac accredits laboratories that perform such tests as radioactivity measurements. They determine the percent-age of radon in the air and the water and the percentage of caesium in food to evaluate health risks.

21. Water a) Waste water The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Owing to eutrophication, waste water must be cleaned. Laboratories at municipal treatment plants and in certain industries perform water analyses to monitor the emis-sion of such things as sulphur, phosphorus, and organic materials. The laboratories shall be accredited by Swedac for these testing methods.

b) Bathwater at beaches and in swimming poolsThe Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and Public Health Agency of Sweden

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Manage-

ment is the regulatory authority for bathing beach water, and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare has issued general advice for water in swim-ming pools. To protect the health of people during the bathing season, municipalities regularly take samples of bathing beach water. Swedac accredits laboratories that carry out this type of water analysis.

c) Well water The Swedish National Food Administration

The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare has is-sued general guidelines for drinking water from individual wells, smaller water treatment plants, and individual water installations. Swedac accredits laboratories for this type of microbiological, chemical, and physical water analysis.

d) Drinking water The Swedish National Food Administration Drinking water in public and commercial operations is supervised through self-monitoring programs and public inspection. Drinking water must be clean and healthy to be used as foodstuff. Analysis of water samples is carried out by laboratories accredited for testing of drinking water.

e) Oceans, lakes, and waterways The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management Swedac accredits laboratories that perform biological investigations into the ecological status of lakes and wa-terways, and along the coasts.

22. ScalesSwedac Swedac issues the regulations on various types of scales, and accredits businesses that perform recurring inspec-tions of things like vehicle scales and garbage scales. To prevent damage to roads, vehicle scales are used to en-sure that heavy vehicles are not driving overloaded. They

are also used in weigh-ing fuel, which concerns emission license trad-ing.

SWEDAC INFO 14:4 Production: Swedac’s Communications Department in co-operation with Swedac’s Environmental Management Group

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photo: Krister Hansson

photo: Colin Hughes/SXC

Swedac is a government authority that works to make goods and services safe and reliable. We also work for a sustainable develop-

ment and increased competitiveness. Our opera-tions are manifold and deal with quality, the

environment, safety, health, and the efficient use of resources. Swedac also develops rules for scales, work of precious metals, pre-packaged goods, electricity meters and petrol pumps that merchants and manufacturers shall follow. We assess

and approve certification bodies, inspection bodies, and laboratories that in turn test and

certify everything from management systems and elevators to medical tests and environmentally

hazardous emissions. Accreditation is used across the world and facilitates trade between countries.

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+46 771 99 09 00•www.swedac.se•registrator@swedac.se