27/09/2008 (Bernama), New York - The American Palm Oil Council (APOC) announced that a Malaysian oil palm plantation has received the first ever certification as the first plantation to adopt the strictest standards of sustainability for its palm-oil production.

A US based association representing the Malaysian palm-oil industry, APOC was set up to inform the American public about the benefits of palm oil used in food applications, biofuel, soaps, candles, etc, and is also said to be the worlds only international association formed to codify sustainable industry practices

"Palm-oil producers in Malaysia, along with the Malaysian government are committed to preserving the countrys natural resources and biodiversity," said Mohd Salleh Kassim, the APOC executive director.

"We want our customers here in the US to know that palm oil purchased in Malaysia is produced in a responsible, environmentally-friendly manner … the announcement is a great step forward in providing our international consumers with the documentation to back up our commitment to sustainable practices," he said.

Malaysia-based United Plantations Bhd was awarded the "Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oils (RSPO) Certificate of Conformance to RSPO Principles and Criteria".

Dedicated to promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil, the RSPO defines sustainable palm oil as production "comprised of legal, economically viable, environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations".

As a qualification for the RSPO award, United Plantations participated in thorough investigations of its nine estates, six mills and conservation areas; interviews with management, staff and workers regarding management systems and social amenities; and a meeting with 150 of the company's stakeholders to ensure that the plantation fulfilled each of the RSPO criteria.

"Much emphasis has been given to developing their commitment to sustainable palm oil," observed David Ogg, an assessor, in the RSPO Assessment Report for United Plantations.

"There is a clear commitment to RSPO by top management and by the staff and workers in the field."

The assessment team also highlighted United Plantations biodiversity and environmental conservation efforts in their report which applauds the establishment of the United Plantations "Lagoon Nature Reserve", a planting project of "rare and endangered Malaysian species", as the APOC calls it.

The lagoon contains 18 tree families, 50 species and more than 2,000 trees, which will create a natural forest system and provide a seed bank for future prorogation.

The report also refers to the plantations enforcement of "zero-burn policies" --- which means that land cannot be burned for the cultivation of palm oil - and its research to improve palm-oil seeds so that they maximize the yield thereby minimising the land and plants needed.

The RSPO certification of United Plantations is a "clear statement", according to the APOC, that "Malaysia is serious about sustainability".

Several other Malaysian palm-oil plantation companies are expected to be certified in the near future, the APOC said.