The manual should contain information on the following areas:

1. A description of the EMS, detailing its scope and purpose and its relationship to the organisations environmental policy, objectives and targets
2. A copy of the organisations environmental policy
3. An organisation chart depicting the organisational structure with respect to environmental management
4. A register and evaluation of the organisations environmental effects*
5. A register of legislative regulatory and other requirements*
6. The organisations objectives and targets within an environmental improvement programme*
7. A list of environmental procedures and work instructions ideally referenced to the clauses of the standard if building an EMS for certification
8. A list of quality or other related procedures and work instructions which have environmental relevance
9. A description of the system for keeping environmental management records
10. Arrangements for regular audits and reports or reference to the location of reports
11. Arrangements for regular environmental reviews.

* A summary or reference to items 4, 5 and 6 should be included and the information detailed elsewhere in the manual, i.e. in an Annex.

Not every element of the system has to be contained within the EMS manual itself. If the organisation wants to keep documents, such as the Register of Environmental Effects, in an Annex to the Manual, then it is sufficient to describe the interfaces with the EMS and refer to the documents at the appropriate point in the Manual. Specific examples might include emergency response plan, drainage map, or the quality management system.