Commission Decision (EU) 2016/611 of 15 April 2016 on the reference document on best environmental management practice, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the tourism sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) (notified under document C(2016) 2137) (Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC⁽¹⁾, and in particular Article 46(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 establishes an obligation for the Commission to develop sectoral reference documents for specific economic sectors in consultation with Member States and other stakeholders. These sectoral reference documents are necessary to help organisations to better focus on the most important environmental aspects in a given sector and allow evaluating, reporting and improving the organisations' environmental performance. They must include best environmental management practice, environmental performance indicators and, where appropriate, benchmarks of excellence and rating systems identifying environmental performance levels in those sectors.
‘Communication from the Commission — Establishment of the working plan setting out an indicative list of sectors for the adoption of sectoral and cross-sectoral reference documents, under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation of organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)’⁽²⁾ sets out a working plan and an indicative list of priority sectors for the adoption of sectoral and cross-sectoral reference documents, including the tourism sector.
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established pursuant to Article 49 of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The sectoral reference document on best environmental management practice, sector environmental performance indicators, and benchmarks of excellence for the tourism sector is set out in the Annex.

Article 2

EMAS-registered organisations in the tourism sector shall take this sectoral reference document into account and should therefore:

use relevant elements of the sectoral reference document when developing and implementing their environmental management system in light of the Environmental Reviews,
demonstrate in their environmental statements how the relevant sector-specific Environmental Performance Indicators, the Best Environmental Management Practices and Benchmarks of Excellence described in the sectoral reference document have been used to identify measures and actions, and possibly to set priorities, for improving their environmental performance.

Article 3

Meeting the benchmarks of excellence identified in the sectoral reference document is not mandatory for EMAS-registered organisations since the voluntary character of EMAS leaves the assessment of the feasibility of the benchmarks, in terms of costs and benefits, to the organisations themselves.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 15 April 2016.

For the Commission

Karmenu Vella

Member of the Commission