GLOBAL demand for sustainable palm oil is rising. As the world's second largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Malaysia has strengthened its Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards in order to meet global demand for sustainability.
The new MSPO 2022 incorporates current sustainability requirement as Malaysia aims to obtain recognition from palm oil importing countries by improving our sustainability practices.
The MSPO 2022 was launched last month with more awareness about sustainable practices, taking into account changes in global sustainability needs.
MSPO 2022 is now the national certification scheme for oil palm plantations, smallholders and palm oil processing facilities and they need to adhere to its standards in order to obtain the certification.
As of March 31 this year, 97.33 per cent, comprising oil palm plantations and smallholders as well as 453 out of the total 464 licensed palm oil mills in the country have received the MSPO certification, issued by the Malaysian Standards Department.
Beginning January 1, 2024, MSPO certificate holders will be re-audited based on the enhanced standards of the MSPO 2022.
In meeting the global demand for sustainability, three elements on economic cycle, forced labour, and placement of plantation workers are added in the MSPO 2022, replacing the MSPO Certification scheme, launched in 2013.
MSPO 2022 also sees the palm oil industry adopting high conservation value (HCV) concept with national interpretation in MSPO HCV guidelines.
Other critical requirements involve policies that commit to no deforestation, no peat development, and no exploitation.
The MSPO 2022 includes protocol 29 of the International Labour Organisation which is an indicator for labours.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) from land-used change and method to measure GHG has also been included. Other critical requirements added in the MSPO 2022 are traceability and legality of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) as well as ethical conducts.
The MSPO 2022 also contains an additional standard requirement to assess conformity for FFB dealers and palm oil traders against the MSPO. This standard will ensure that all types of dealers under MPOB Licensing, including exporters and importers that purchase and sell oil palm products do not change the chemical properties of the materials. This standard covers sustainable management as well as supply chain requirements.
The new framework for the MSPO 2022 standards has only five principles compared to the previous version of seven principles in order to further streamline the requirements to be consistent with the overall flow.
The move to enhance the MSPO certification ensures that the management of oil palm plantations and local palm oil products meet global sustainability standards.
The MSPO 2022 also counteracts the anti-palm oil campaigns by non-governmental organisations in the West on our product quality and the management of Malaysian oil palm plantations as well as negative perceptions on palm oil.
The MSPO 2022, with enhanced standards, will address the challenges that we are facing, particularly with regard to negative perceptions in the West. It will also ensure superior quality of our palm oil and palm oil-related products and hence, expand Malaysia's export market.
This new certification will ensure that Malaysian palm oil products are sustainable and acceptable in the global market.
* The writer is the director-general of Malaysian Palm Oil Board.