24/11/05 SINGAPORE,  (Bernama) -- The members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have adopted the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production with an overwhelming majority.

The 8 Principles and 39 Criteria encompass all facets of sustainability ensuring that production is economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial.

The criteria were ratified by the members of the RSPO at the conclusion of the two-day 3rd Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Palm Oil yesterday.

RSPO said in a statement that more than 10 plantation companies from all over the world committed themselves to conduct pilot testing of these Principles and Criteria over the next two years.

"This is a major achievement considering the RSPO was founded only less than two years ago. Without the goodwill of all stakeholders, this would not have been possible," RSPO secretary-general Andrew Ng said.

The RSPO currently has 95 members, representing roughly one third of the global palm oil production and includes some of the major palm oil processors and consumer goods manufacturers.

In addition, a number of social and environmental non-governmental organisations were actively involved in this voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative, RSPO said.

The third roundtable was attended by over 300 individuals from 28 countries representing all interest groups along the palm oil supply chain.

RSPO is an association created by organisations carrying out their activities in and around the entire supply chain for palm oil to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through co-operation within the supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders.