The move by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) grouping to revise its Principles and Criteria (P&C) 2013 to include the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions criterion for the production of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) is putting many domestic oil palm plantations/growers who are members of the RSPO in a dilemma.
While many growers have expressed their disappointment with the RSPO, but the passing of the newly-revised P&C by the multi-stakeholders at the RSPO extraordinary general assembly last Thursday in Kuala Lumpur has actually sealed the fate of the RSPO oil palm growers to strictly abide by the new criterion.
This will include minimising net GHG emissions from new planting development, no planting on peat land as well as the requirement for ethical business; fresh fruit bunches sourcing from legal and responsible sources, forced labour and human rights.
Loosely translated, the newly revised RSPO P&C will make it more challenging and costly for the Malaysian oil palm planters and growers to secure the coveted “voluntary” RSPO certification.
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