RSPO Standard

Certification according to RSPO SCCS: about the standard ​RSPO Supply Chain Certification Systems is a standard to certify conformity of supply chains using RSPO certified sustainable palm oil or products derived thereof. The objective is to involve the entire supply chain, by reaching out to the consumer. The stnadard is applicable for use with all products that contain either 100% or a percentage of certified palm oil products and is required to evaluate the traceability through the supply chain of all products for the four supply chain models:

• Segregation (SG): Palm oil and its derivates come from RSPO certified sources only and are separated through the supply chain without mixing with conventional palm ingredients. 
• Identity Preserved (IP): Ensures that all palm ingredients to the end user are uniquely identifiable to the mill and its supply base. 
• Mass Balance (MB): Administrative monitoring of the trade of RSPO CSPO going together with conventional palm oil in the production

Certification according to RSPO SCCS: benefits There is in an everurgent need and growing global concern that products (agricultural as well as non-agricultural) are produced without undue harm to the environment or society. Obviously, the concerned consumer cannot verify himself whether any product on the supermarket shelf is responsibly produced. In gist, RSPO Certification is a seal of approval that the palm oil used in the product is indeed so produced and volumes are traceable. 

Producers are certified through strict verification of the production process, to the stringent RSPO P&C, by accredited certifying agencies and may be withdrawn at any time on infringement of the rules and standards. The certified sustainable palm oil (RSPO Oil) is traceable through the supply chain by certification of each facility along the supply chain that processes or uses the certified oil.

What is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global, multistakeholder initiative on sustainable oil palm products. Members of RSPO and participants in its activities come from many different backgrounds, including plantation companies, manufacturers and retailers of oil palm products, environmental and social NGOs and from many countries that produce or use oil palm products.  The principal objective of RSPO is “to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through cooperation within the supply chain and open dialogue between its stakeholders”. The methods used by the RSPO to deliver its objective include:

• The development of a standard for certification of sustainable oil palm production and associated mechanisms for verification of responsible oil palm production.
• The RSPO Standard for Sustainable Oil Palm Production, approved in October 2007, is presented as a series of Principles, Criteria, Indicators and Guidance, and is designed to be used by oil palm producers to implement sustainable production practices, and by certification bodies for field verification.
• The development of Supply Chain Certification which enables the trading and processing of RSPO certified products to take place and for an RSPO market claim to be made.

Revision of the RSPO SCC Standard (and System)
Since 21st November 2014 there is a new version of the RSPO SCC Standard (and System) available. Since 1st April 2015, all audits, initial certification audits and annual surveillance audits, have to be done against the new standard. A short overview of some alterations:

• In general, the new version is slightly more detailed and the structure of Module-Chapters has changed a little: Now, definitions are directly included and ‘record keeping’ has been moved to chapter 5 ‘General CoC’
• Module D – CPO Mills: Identity Preserved (old version: Segregation)
• New: Module G – Group Certification
• 5.7 Registration and transaction: all Supply Chain actors have to register their transactions on eTrace (RSPO IT system) now
• New sections:
  • 5.2 Supply Chain Model
  • 5.10. Conversion factors
  • 5.12 Complaints
  • 5.13 Management Review

How can DNV help?
Our experienced auditors can offer many years of practice in the field of assessment and certification of supply chains and technical expertise throughout the entire process of certification: from the preparation to the planning to the audit itself - we support you at every step. 
Since 1st December 2013, DNV is accredited for the RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard  (RSPO SCCS) scheme by the Accreditation Services International GmbH (ASI) -  one of the world’s leading accreditation bodies for sustainability standards systems. Thus DNV ranks among the few certification bodies that are allowed to carry out audits according to RSPO SCCS. As of 30th June 2014 only certification bodies accredited by the ASI are allowed to operate in this area. Other advantages:

• Assessments: Let us show you from our experienced staff, how to prepare most effective on the RSPO certification.
• Training: Educate yourself or your employees to internally maintain your RSPO system and develop.
• Events and webinars: Find out about the possibilities of RSPO in our events in our live webinars.