PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), originally scheduled for early 2025, has been postponed by one year. This delay will allow smallholders, who currently lack access to necessary technology and capital, more time to meet the required standards for European markets. The focus during the postponement will be on providing technical assistance and support to smallholders.
Since the announcement of EUDR, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has made significant efforts to prepare smallholders. These efforts include accelerating the registration and data collection of planters through the integrated electronic system, Sistem Terpadu Pendaftaran Usaha Budidaya Perkebunan untuk Pekebun (STDB), or the e-Cultivation Document. This system is designed to ensure traceability of palm oil products from their sources of production.
The Forum Petani Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan Indonesia (Fortasbi) sees the EUDR implementation as an opportunity for the government to improve governance in the palm oil sector, one of Indonesia’s key exports.
“The acceleration of e-Cultivation Document issuance and certification must be strengthened. This is a chance to ensure that 2.5 million independent smallholders receive both e-Cultivation Documents and the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification,” said Rukaiyah Rafik, Head of Fortasbi Secretariat, in an official statement quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Thursday (10/10/2024).
She also emphasized that EUDR implementation should not be in rush without considering the impacts for the smallholders that might be reaching millions of men in Indonesia. Uki, her familiar name also reminded that EUDR should be the tools to improve commodities’ governance, such as, palm oil, in holistic ways without putting the smallholders aside from the supply chain in the continent.
Uki also mentioned that the independent smallholders have started implementing sustainable cultivation since the last decade. But to qualify EUDR, it would need the strong collaboration among many parties, such as, civil organizations, the governments, the companies, and the people of Europe. “It would be significant to get collaboration and confirm that the independent smallholders would obey every regulation that Europe would,” she said.
She also proposed ISPO certification mechanism in Indonesia should be acknowledged as the tool in EUDR implementation. This would be the same with ISPO certification acceleration in Indonesia and would help accelerate EUDR qualification for the independent ones. (P2)
