Earned Recognition Rebecca Tremain Senior Advisor Compliance Future

Earned Recognition Rebecca Tremain Senior Advisor Compliance – Future Regulation

Earned Recognition Recognise enhanced environmental performance Reduced risk Lighter regulatory touch Voluntary

Risk Regulatory Effort Management Systems Permit compliance Continuous improvement Accreditation Corporate Sustainability Horizon scanning Earned Recognition 3

Public Recognition Customer confidence Reputational benefits Visible standard Performance awards Case studies 4

3 rd Party Assurance Delivering inspections through existing regimes Reduction in regulatory burden 5

Examples of Earned Recognition Crossrail Food Standards Agency Care quality commission Ofsted 6

Farm Assurance Introduced in 2010 only EPR sector Delivered via Red Tractor & Lion code assurance 74% of permit stock are in Assurance Scheme 7

Feedback so far…. Barrier to entry for SMEs Recognise externally certified EMS 5 years no non-compliances is unrealistic Recognition of positive improvements Going above and beyond compliance is not in the Environment Agency’s remit 8

Our current proposals Gold e. g. EMAS Silver e. g. ISO 14001 Bronze e. g. BS 8555 Public Recognition 9

Eligibility & Compliance obligation Self Assessment Communication 3 rd Party Audit • Enhanced environmental performance • Accredited management system that meets regulatory guidance • Other requirements to form part of wider consultation • Compliance obligations to be met • Operator to undertake self assessment of permit requirements • Self assessment to be defined • Operator to provide regulator with self assessment • Frequency still to be defined • 3 rd party check veracity of communication between operator and regulator • 3 rd party audits to be provided to regulator

Benefits & Constraints Greater autonomy Efficiency Reduction in EA contact Costs Cutting blue tape Standards of inspection Data sharing 11

What does industry want? Reduction in fees? Reduced regulatory burden? Cheaper rates? Public recognition? Exclusive or open to the majority? Other incentives? 12

Questions 13