02/04/2013 (The Star) - The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) will seek the adoption of a revised set of principles & criteria (P&C) at its upcoming extraordinary general assembly here on April 25.

It said in a statement that the key changes to the P&C included:

- A new criterion requiring growers to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from new plantings;

- A new criterion on ethical business practices, which requires companies to have and implement policies countering corruption;

- A new criterion requiring that a policy on human rights is in place and communicated to the whole company; and

- A new criterion banning the use of forced labour.

RSPO said this first standard review in five years clarified and improved on the previous P&C.

“Consensus was reached on the revised P&C following months of intense and detailed discussions among the P&C review taskforce, which comprised growers from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of the world, supply chain representatives from processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers and retailers and social and environmental NGOs (non-governmental organisations),” it said.

RSPO requested members to whom the P&C did not apply directly to implement parallel standards relevant to their own organisations, which were not lower than those set out in the revised P&C.

RSPO executive board president Jan Kees Vis said: “Given RSPO’s commitment and mission to raise industry standards, while harmonising a broad range of interests, the agreed text of the revised P&C is a conciliation based on the RSPO’s inclusive, consensus-driven, multi-stakeholder standard setting philosophy.”

“The RSPO believes the revised criteria, indicators, and guidance will enhance the effectiveness and relevance of the P&Cs, and help address the sustainability challenges facing oil palm cultivation,” he added.

The 2013 P&C review process was facilitated by ProForest, an independent consultancy that works with organisations, companies, governments and communities to find equitable solutions for the sustainable management of natural resources.