ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the implications for less developed countries (LDCs), which in this context include economies in transition. While International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001 will apply uniformly to both developed economies and LDCs, there are a number of issues that are of particular concern for LDCs. Many reasons have been cited for implementing an environmental management system (EMS) in either developed or less developed economies. Representatives of LDCs have been involved in the development of ISO 14001. Excluding South Africa, LDC certifications accounted for less than 1% of the total. One of the objectives of the ISO 14000 series is to prevent divergent national EMS requirements from becoming 'technical barriers to trade'. There is an inextricable link between the technical and financial issues for LDCs relating to ISO 14001. Development of sectoral guidance on how to implement environmental management systems would be of particular value for small and medium-sized enterprises.
