World: New palm oil standards raise deforestation concerns

Published 2024년 12월 12일

Tridge summary

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has updated its sustainability rules, effective from the next year, following a vote at its annual conference. The changes include stricter human rights regulations for operators and suppliers, enhanced smallholder certification processes, and increased scrutiny on water usage and pesticide use. However, these updates have been criticized by Greenpeace and the Rainforest Action Network for allegedly weakening deforestation safeguards, particularly regarding High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests. Despite these criticisms, the RSPO maintains that its standards have not diminished and are more implementable. The organization also plans to launch a new digital traceability system, Prisma, to aid compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation.

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Original content

In November, updated rules governing the production of sustainable-certified palm oil were adopted following a vote at the annual conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), in Bangkok. The RSPO was set up in 2004 by a group of NGOs, including WWF, alongside companies in the palm oil supply chain. The RSPO’s certification system includes rules to prevent deforestation, restrict pesticide use and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples, local communities and workers. It currently certifies around 20% of the global palm oil market. Many financial institutions and companies use this certification to support internal policies that are aimed at reducing or eliminating deforestation from their supply chains. The RSPO’s Principles and Criteria document is updated every five years, with a two-year consultation period followed by a vote by all members. Under the latest iteration, companies will now be required to identify existing and potential human rights impacts in ...

Source: UkrAgroConsult