Implementation of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil – Progress to Date

Ainie Kuntom, Ahmad Kushairi and Choo Yuen May
Malaysian Palm Oil Board
6 Pesiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The highly regulated Malaysian oil palm agribusiness has been in existence for about 100 years. The recent trend of including sustainability requirements in agribusinesses is a response to   global requirements for proof of sustainability.  To answer the question on “who” is defining “what” constitutes sustainable palm oil, a Malaysian Standard (MS) for Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) was developed in consultation with stakeholders of the oil palm industry. The new standard, MS2530:2013, gazetted and published in 2013, contains seven sustainability principles covering the three sustainability pillars namely, social equity, environmental protection and economic progress. The standard will be reviewed every five years based on requirements at the time of reviewing.

The MS 2530 comprises four parts outlining sustainability requirements, which independent smallholders, plantations and organized smallholders, and mills are to comply for certification. Pilot runs of MSPO certification were conducted in 2014.  The MSPO Certification Scheme was effective since 1st January 2015. The oil palm industry is highly encouraged to implement the scheme.
Currently, MSPO certification is basis. A number of oil palm premises had been certified under the scheme. Implementation of this scheme is challenging for smallholders and small plantation owners, hence activities are focus on these groups of growers.