C2.2.9 Communication
An organisation must establish procedures for communication, both internally and externally.
The revised standard now has a specific separate section each for internal communication and for external communication.
Requirements are now more prescriptive as to what the process for communications (internal and external) shall be. New requirements include the need to ensure that it is planned what, when, how and with who communications are made, and that the communications take into account compliance obligations, are consistent with the EMS and are reliable.
Communications on the EMS must be responded to.
The communications process must enable persons working on the organisation’s behalf to contribute to continual improvement.
The previous requirement on deciding whether to communicate externally about significant environmental aspects is no longer specifically referenced, as this is covered in the overall communications process detailed in 7.4.1.