PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) recently addressed concerns regarding the potential weakening of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) standards. This clarification follows an article published by InfoSAWIT titled “FPIC Weakening in RSPO Standards Would Trigger Concerns About Indigenous People Protection,” which prompted the need for further explanation from RSPO.
In its official statement, RSPO affirmed that there are no intentions to eliminate the terms and conditions related to the new FPIC standards. The organization remains committed to safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities through a clear and robust FPIC process. This process ensures that communities receive complete information and grant their approval before any companies develop plantations in their vicinity.
“We are making every effort to engage with all parties mentioned in the article to clarify any misunderstandings regarding the new RSPO standards,” RSPO stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
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RSPO expressed pride in the new standards developed by its members, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability, community rights, and environmental protection. These standards, which have been approved by the RSPO Board, are designed to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry through implementable and auditable practices.
One main focus in the new standard was to reinforce the commitment on human rights. RSPO would be committed to keep cooperating with its members, including the producers and social non-government organizations to reinforce FPIC terms and conditions in the fields, namely in the regions where they face the inheritance of conflicts.
RSPO closed its statement by emphasizing their dedication to promote sustainable palm oil production by respecting the people and economic welfare. The organization did welcome the sustainable dialogue with every stakeholder to confirm that the standard implementation would be running transparently and with integrity.
For more info, RSPO suggested that the public should visit its official page.
For information, this would be the rights of reply from RSPO to respond the previous information about FPIC standard that would be implemented in the Principles and Criteria 2024 and as the implementation of Press Law in Indonesia about the rights of reply. (P1)
