FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1998-01-14

New Canadian secretary for international ISO 14000 effort

Ahmad Husseini of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has been named secretary of the international committee responsible for developing the ISO 14000 series - the first set of global environmental management standards. The appointment was announced today by the Standards Council of Canada.

As the secretary for the International Organization for Standardization's technical committee on environmental management (ISO/TC 207), Mr. Husseini will be responsible for the management of an environmental standards effort that brings together representatives from some 70 countries.

"I see the committee devoting more attention to helping developing countries understand and apply ISO 14000 standards and encouraging these countries to continue to participate in the development process," said Mr. Husseini.

Mr. Husseini has served as secretary of ISO/TC 207's working groups dealing with forestry and self-declaration of environmental claims. He has also contributed to the standard dealing with general environmental management systems guidelines (ISO 14004).

As CSA's manager, environmental programs, Mr. Husseini manages the CSA's standards development efforts in such fields as life cycle assessment, sustainable forest management, environmentally responsible procurement and environmental labeling. In the past, Mr. Husseini managed CSA's contract to develop guidelines for the federal government's Environmental Choice Program. He has 33 years experience in engineering, consulting and management.

Mr. Husseini succeeds Jim Dixon, CSA's director, business management and life sciences, who was first named secretary of TC 207 in 1993. Mr. Dixon is currently focusing on several new CSA initiatives.

CSA operates the secretariat of ISO/TC 207 on behalf of the Standards Council of Canada, the country's member at ISO. With 120 member countries, ISO is one of the world's foremost standards development bodies.

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