EBM achieves prestigious ISO 14001:2004 certification
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan's leading biscuits maker, English Biscuit Manufacturers, (Pvt) Ltd, has been awarded the prestigious ISO 14001:2004 certification from URS auditors recently. The certification has been given to the company after two days of in-depth audit of the entire plant. ISO 14001 Environmental management system is an international standard that enables an organisation of any size or type to control the impact of its activities, products or services on the natural environment.
The company took the initiative of reaching this goal in August 2004 and conducted monthly gap analysis to check their progress. A company or institution that complies with the requirements can obtain a certificate according to the standard. ISO 14001 has established performance objectives and environmental management systems that companies can follow to prevent pollution, ensure compliance with regulations and achieve continual improvement.
Speaking on this commendable achievement, Khawar M. Butt, the Managing Director of EBM said that EBM is the first ever food manufacturing concern to be awarded with this high certification that qualifies us to meet the strict requirements of European countries. "With this certification we have once again proven that an organisation is successful not because of its strategies and technology but because of its people who are motivated by ideas and values, hopes and aspirations," he said and added, "I would like to mention here that all our departments have worked day and night to make this a successful audit; our HR and Administration Department developed special programs to impart training for workers and supervisors including fire fighting and emergency preparedness drills; the commissioning of the waste water treatment plant and modification of equipment by our Engineering Department; implementation of the solid waste management system by the material management department; efforts by the housekeeping, production team, the QA team and the environment management system team are invaluable contributions to this success."
He also mentioned the efforts by the marketing department that took out a special booklet as part of the awareness campaign for workers regarding quality, food safety and environment policy. It also contained information about their personal hygiene and its importance that proved try be very beneficial for employees.
EBM started working in 2001 on the implementation of HACCP. After one year of hard work, training and equipment modification the company got HACCP certification in May 2002. Earlier EBM also got ISO 9001;1994 certification in 1998 and upgraded its system to ISO 9001:2000 in 2001.
"We carried out a Gap analysis in August 2004 for ISO 14001:2004. It had taken us around one year for the preparation to comply with the requirements of ISO 14001:2004. After a detailed aspect /impact study a proper Solid Waste Management area has been developed and a chemical Waste Water Treatment Plant has been installed. The final certification audit was carried out on 5t" & 16th August 2005." said Tariq Naeem, EBM's Deputy General Manager Works & Quality Assurance.
"The entire audit was done by local industry experts and representatives of URS. We have undergone a rigorous routine to achieve this milestone and I am proud to say that this certification shall fortify our aim to ensure good health of the consumers, as well as create environmental awareness and its benefits amongst them. I am proud to say that EBM is the first to receive this award in this country. No food industry has this certificate till now in Pakistan." Tariq Naeem added.
URS is the only certified agency authorized by the ISO to award companies that meet all the safety and environment requirements set by the organisation. EBM was the first ever food manufacturing concern in the country to qualify for the ISO 9001 certification earlier.