Palm Oil (RSPO) Certification

RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) is a multi-stakeholder certification scheme for sustainable palm-oil production and supply. It focuses on deforestation, peatland destruction and labour rights. It defines four supply-chain models: Identity Preserved, Segregated, Mass Balance and Book & Claim (credit trading).

• Food manufacturers using palm oil and its derivatives
• Cosmetics and cleaning-product manufacturers
• Feed manufacturers
• Palm-oil refining and trading firms
• Those supplying brands with a sustainable palm-oil commitment

Voluntary. Because the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) lists palm oil among the covered commodities, due-diligence obligations arise separately; an RSPO certificate is not automatically equivalent to this obligation but supports the traceability infrastructure.

• The production standard (P&C): protecting against deforestation and high conservation-value areas
• Protection of peatlands and high carbon-stock areas
• Worker rights and prevention of forced labour and child labour
• The rights of local communities and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)
• Smallholder requirements
• Supply-chain models: Identity Preserved, Segregated, Mass Balance, Book & Claim
• Chain-of-custody records and volume reconciliation
• Recording transactions in the PalmTrace system
• Claim and logo-use rules

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• Rainforest AllianceSustainable Agriculture
• Better CottonSustainable Cotton
• FSC CoCForest Products
• PEFC CoCForest Products
• Chain of Custody
• ISCC EUBiofuel
• ISCC PLUSCircular/Bio-based
• Biomass Certification