ISO 14001 legislation and compliance
Clause 6.1.3 of ISO 14001 requires you to know which environmental legislation applies to your organisation and to show that you comply with it. The standard calls these your compliance obligations. You buy the official text from NEN . On this page we explain 6.1.3, which Dutch environmental rules usually apply, and how to keep a workable register. This belongs with the wider requirements of the standard.
What does clause 6.1.3 require?
Clause 6.1.3 requires three things. First, determine which legislation and regulations apply to your environmental aspects. Then, determine how those obligations apply to you. Finally, keep this overview up to date.
It is not only about laws. Permits count too, as do voluntary agreements you enter into. Think of a covenant with your trade association or a requirement from a client.
Determining compliance obligations is different from evaluating compliance. The first is knowing which rules apply (6.1.3). The second is checking that you comply with them (9.1.2). The auditor asks about both.
Which environmental legislation applies in the Netherlands?
Since 1 January 2024, the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) has replaced much of the old environmental rules. The Environmental Management Act (Wet milieubeheer) and the Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) have largely been absorbed into this new system. Which rules apply to you depends on your activities.
The main sources at a glance:
| Source | What it regulates | Relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) | The overarching system for the living environment | Almost every company with an environmental impact |
| Activities Decree for the Living Environment (Besluit activiteiten leefomgeving, Bal) | General national rules per environmentally relevant activity | Production, storage, discharge, waste |
| Environmental permit (omgevingsvergunning) | Specific conditions for your location | Activities that require a permit |
| EU F-gas Regulation | Leak checks and registration of cooling installations | Cooling and climate installations |
| Sector-specific rules | For example PGS (Dutch hazardous substance storage guidelines) for dangerous substances | Sectors with specific risks |
Unsure whether you need a permit, a notification or to meet an information obligation? The Information Point for the Living Environment (Informatiepunt Leefomgeving) and your Omgevingsdienst (regional environmental enforcement agency) can give you clarity. Always check the official source, because rules change. Read how to determine whether you need a permit, a notification or an information obligation, and how to record that in your register, on environmental permit and ISO 14001.
An example compliance register
A compliance register links each environmental aspect to the rule that applies, what that rule requires, and how you comply with it. Such a register does not need to be a thick document. A table is enough.
| Environmental aspect | Law or permit | What it requires | How you comply |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-gas cooling installation | EU F-gas Regulation | Periodic leak check and registration | Logbook per installation, certified technician |
| Discharge of company waste water | Activities Decree for the Living Environment (Bal) | Discharge limits per substance | Measurements, pre-treatment, reporting to the competent authority |
| Storage of hazardous substances | Environmental permit + PGS | Safe storage, drip trays, distances | Storage inspection, up-to-date PGS checklist |
| Company waste | Activities Decree for the Living Environment (Bal) | Separation and disposal through an approved processor | Processor contract, keep weighbridge tickets |
| Energy use (large energy user) | Energy saving obligation | Take approved measures, information obligation | Reporting via eLoket (online reporting portal), ISO 50001 as a tool |
A document control system for environmental management
Your register is not a loose spreadsheet that you make once. The standard requires documented information that is up to date, findable and protected. That is the core of a document control system for environmental management.
In practice, you record three things: who manages the register, how often you review it, and where you keep its versions. An installation company, for example, agrees that the KAM coordinator checks the register every quarter and updates it with every new permit.
A common mistake: the register is in order, but the compliance evaluation is missing. Plan at least one moment per year when you show, per obligation, that you comply. Keep that evidence for the audit.
How do you keep your register up to date?
Environmental legislation changes regularly. To keep up, you can follow the Information Point for the Living Environment (IPLO) , subscribe to newsletters from your trade association, or use alerts from a consultancy. Many companies outsource the legal check.
Always link a change back to your environmental aspects. A new rule can make an aspect significant, or call for an extra control measure.
Next step
Read how the auditor assesses your compliance in the audit checklist, or see what changes with ISO 14001:2026 for the requirements around compliance. Do you want to bring your compliance register into a structured environmental manual? That page explains how to link all the mandatory documents. Are you a manufacturer with an environmental permit? Read ISO 14001 for manufacturers for the sector-specific approach to permit compliance.
Working further in practice
A register with applicable rules does not yet show whether you comply with them. Use the approach for compliance evaluation under ISO 14001 to assess evidence, record shortcomings and track remediation.
Sources
- ISO 14001:2026 - Environmental management systems - International Organization for Standardization
- Omgevingswet voor ondernemers - Dutch government
- Informatiepunt Leefomgeving - Explanation of rules per activity