What is the primary objective of **EMAS**?

**The primary objective of EMAS is to promote continuous improvement in environmental performance through structured environmental management systems, systematic evaluation, public information provision, stakeholder dialogue, and active employee involvement.** As defined in Article 1 of **Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009**, EMAS requires organisations to implement an EMS aligned with Annex II, conduct periodic performance evaluations, produce validated environmental statements per Annex IV, and demonstrate verifiable progress in core indicators like energy, water, waste, materials, biodiversity, and emissions.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **EMAS**?

**No organisation is legally required to comply with EMAS, as it is a voluntary scheme under EU Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.** Participation is open to any organisation—public or private, any sector or size, inside or outside the EU—seeking credible environmental governance. As of September 2025, 4,141 organisations and 16,154 sites are registered, including SMEs with derogations under Article 7; professionals in high-impact sectors like waste (655 organisations) adopt it for procurement advantages and verified compliance.

Does **EMAS** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, EMAS mandates independent verification and validation by accredited/licensed environmental verifiers, but registration—not certification—is through national Competent Bodies.** Verifiers confirm EMS conformity (Annex II), legal compliance (Article 4), internal audits (Annex III), and validate the public environmental statement (Annex IV) per Articles 18–23; Competent Bodies register organisations post-verifier declaration (Annex VII), enabling EMAS logo use.

How often should an assessment for **EMAS** be performed?

**EMAS requires full verification of the EMS and audits every three years (extendable to four for qualifying small organisations under Article 7), with annual validation of updated environmental statements.** Internal audits must cover all activities within three years (or four for SMEs), per Annex III; substantial changes trigger reviews within six months (Article 8), ensuring ongoing performance evaluation and legal compliance.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **EMAS**?

**Non-compliance with EMAS leads to suspension or deletion from the register by national Competent Bodies, loss of EMAS logo use, and potential regulatory scrutiny.** Under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009, failure to submit validated statements (Article 6), demonstrate legal compliance (Article 13), or address verifier findings results in deregistration; no direct fines apply to the voluntary scheme, but it exposes underlying environmental legal breaches.

Can **EMAS** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**EMAS fully incorporates ISO 14001 EMS requirements in Annex II, enabling seamless mapping and combined audits.** EMAS extends ISO with verified legal compliance, public statements, core indicators, and performance improvement; organisations use Article 45 for partial recognition of equivalent systems like national schemes, reducing duplication while retaining EMAS's transparency premium.

What is the first step to begin implementing **EMAS**?

**The first step to implement EMAS is conducting an initial environmental review per Article 4 and Annex I.** This comprehensive baseline analysis identifies direct/indirect aspects, legal obligations, performance data, and significance criteria, forming the foundation for the EMS, policy, and statement; it must precede verifier engagement for registration.

What is the primary objective of **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**The primary objective of MLPS 2.0 is to classify information systems into five protection levels based on potential harm to national security, social order, and public interests, ensuring commensurate technical, management, and physical controls.** Originating from China's 2017 Cybersecurity Law Article 21, it mandates network operators to prevent attacks, data breaches, and disruptions through graded requirements in standards like GB/T 22239-2019, covering cloud, IoT, and industrial systems.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**All network operators in mainland China, including domestic firms, foreign-invested enterprises, and multinationals with local systems, must comply with MLPS 2.0.** This encompasses operators of IT networks, cloud platforms, IoT, big data, and industrial controls, enforced by Ministry of Public Security and local Public Security Bureaus (PSBs), with critical sectors like finance and energy facing heightened scrutiny.

Does **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, MLPS 2.0 requires external security reviews by licensed Chinese firms for Level 2 and above systems, with PSB approval and a minimum passing score of 75/100.** Level 1 involves self-assessment; higher levels demand formal audits evaluating technical, management, and physical controls, plus ongoing PSB supervision.

How often should an assessment for **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** be performed?

**Assessments under MLPS 2.0 must be performed biennially for Level 2, annually for Level 3, semi-annually for Level 4, and as mandated for Level 5, plus upon major changes.** Self-inspections are continuous; external re-evaluations by licensed firms ensure sustained compliance with GB/T 28448-2019 criteria.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**Non-compliance with MLPS 2.0 results in fines up to 100,000 yuan, operational suspensions, system shutdowns, and intensified PSB inspections.** Enforcement since 2019 links certification to business license renewals; severe cases involve blacklisting or criminal liability for incidents tied to inadequate protections.

Can **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, MLPS 2.0 control domains—physical, network, data, operations, governance—map to ISO 27001 Annex A and NIST CSF categories.** Organizations leverage existing ISMS for gap analysis, extending Statements of Applicability to MLPS baselines while addressing China-specific elements like data localization.

What is the first step to begin implementing **MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)**?

**The first step for MLPS 2.0 implementation is conducting a provisional self-assessment to classify systems into Levels 1-5 based on impact to national security and social order.** Inventory assets, document rationale per GB/T 22239-2020, then file with local PSB within 30 days for Level 2+ systems.

EMAS vs MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)

Standards Comparison

EMAS

Voluntary

1993

EU voluntary scheme for environmental management and audit

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)

Mandatory

N/A

China's mandatory graded cybersecurity protection framework

Quick Verdict

EMAS offers voluntary environmental management certification for EU organizations seeking performance transparency, while MLPS 2.0 mandates graded cybersecurity for all Chinese networks to protect national security. Companies adopt EMAS for credibility, MLPS to avoid fines.

Environmental Management

EMAS

Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Validated public environmental statements with core indicators
Verified legal compliance with environmental legislation
Independent verification by accredited environmental verifiers
Initial review of direct and indirect aspects
Commitment to continuous environmental performance improvement

Standard

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)

Multi-Level Protection Scheme 2.0

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Five impact-based protection levels for systems
Mandatory classification and PSB registration Level 2+
Technical controls for cloud, IoT, big data
Governance, personnel, third-party management requirements
Third-party audits and law enforcement oversight

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

EMAS Details

What It Is

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), governed by Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009, is a voluntary EU environmental management framework. It promotes continuous improvement in environmental performance through structured systems, evaluation, and transparent reporting. EMAS uses a PDCA cycle enhanced with ISO 14001 alignment, initial reviews, and verified public disclosure.

Key Components

Environmental review, policy, EMS (Annex II), internal audits (Annex III), and public statements (Annex IV).
Core indicators for energy, materials, water, waste, biodiversity, emissions.
Built on ISO 14001 with added verification, legal compliance, and Sectoral Reference Documents.
Registration via national Competent Bodies after independent verifier validation.

Why Organizations Use It

Demonstrates verified compliance, reducing regulatory risks and enabling incentives.
Drives efficiency gains in resources and operations.
Enhances ESG reporting, procurement advantages, and stakeholder trust.
Builds reputation as environmental leader.

Implementation Overview

Phased: review, EMS design, audits, verification, registration.
Applies to all sectors, sizes; SME derogations available.
Requires verifier audits, annual statements; 12-18 months typical.

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme) Details

What It Is

MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme 2.0) is China's legally mandated cybersecurity framework under the 2017 Cybersecurity Law (Article 21). It requires network operators to classify systems into five protection levels based on potential impact to national security, social order, and public interests, implementing graded technical, governance, and physical controls.

Key Components

Core domains: physical security, network protection, data security, access control, monitoring, and governance.
Standards like GB/T 22239-2019, GB/T 25070-2019 define baselines and extensions for cloud, IoT, big data.
Built on impact-based classification; Levels 2+ require third-party audits (75/100 score) and PSB approval.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for all China-based networks; non-compliance risks fines, suspensions.
Enhances resilience, aligns with data laws; builds regulator trust, market access.

Implementation Overview

Phased: classify, gap analysis, remediate, audit, ongoing re-evaluations.
Applies to all sizes/industries in China; annual costs tens of thousands USD for Level 3.

Key Differences

Aspect	EMAS	MLPS 2.0 (Multi-Level Protection Scheme)
Scope	Environmental management and performance reporting	Cybersecurity and network protection controls
Industry	All EU sectors, voluntary for organizations	All China network operators, mandatory
Nature	Voluntary EU regulation with certification	Mandatory Chinese cybersecurity law
Testing	Independent verifier audits every 3 years	Third-party assessments, PSB approval Level 2+
Penalties	Registration suspension or deletion	Fines, operational suspension, inspections