SOME 4.94 million ha, or 87.4%, of the palm oil plantations in Malaysia, and 407 of the 446 palm oil mills have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard as of April this year.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said 151,152 smallholders, covering 542,215 ha (66%), have also obtained certification during the same period.
This represents the collective efforts of the government and industry players over the past decade to enhance the sustainability standards of the industry, according to his speech which was read by his Deputy secretary general (strategic planning and management) Abdul Hadi Omar at the MSPO 10th anniversary celebration and Aidilfitri celebration today.
In addition, the certification has received various recognitions and has signed several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with stakeholders in key purchasing countries like Japan, China, India, Mongolia and the Philippines.
“A significant MOU was also signed with the Halal Development Centre to promote Malaysian palm oil in the global halal market,” he shared.
Moreover, he said during bilateral discussions with the European Union (EU) on the EU Deforestation-free Regulation and MSPO, positive feedback was received regarding Malaysia’s efforts to reduce deforestation rates.
“The EU has significantly acknowledged Malaysia’s dedication to sustainable commodity production,” he added.
The ministry also announced the rebranding of the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) to MSPO to strengthen the certification scheme’s global standing as a top-quality sustainable palm oil certification scheme.
Johari also unveiled a comprehensive Strategic MSPO Action Plan for 2024 to 2026 to enhance the promotion of the MSPO, focusing on 57 strategic initiatives grouped under three key strategies:
Establishing a solid and reliable certification scheme, enforcing industry compliance while enriching the MSPO certification and broadening the scheme’s recognition and acceptance globally.
“This plan marks a significant step in our commitment to elevating the MSPO to new heights of global excellence and acceptance,” he said.
These efforts are part of ongoing improvements to the MSPO, including traceability, deforestation-free products, legitimate land ownership, and fair labour practices.
The minister repeatedly stressed the need for MSPO to actively engage in local and international forums discussing sustainability or the cooking oil industry and to involve stakeholders in effective engagement sessions.
Lastly, Johari affirmed the importance of placing the MSPO logo on all certified palm oil products to enhance the certification’s reliability and counteract negative perceptions of the industry.
He expressed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to produce high-quality palm oil with premium value while maintaining competitive standards globally.
https://themalaysianreserve.com/2024/05/13/mspo-certification-achieves-87-4-coverage-of-malaysian-palm-oil-plantations/
Sumber : The Malaysian Reserve