Oil palm fruits are gathered in a open area at a factory before being processed in Sepang outside Kuala Lumpur April 29, 2009. Growing economic pain may increasingly force consumers to turn to palm oil, one of the cheapest cooking oils, a move that could scupper nascent plans to slow deforestation in Southeast Asia. To match analysis: ASIA-PALM/DEFORESTATION REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad (MALAYSIA SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT)

MSPO will enable Malaysia to brand its palm oil as the premier choice

  • Jan 15, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) is definitely set to be a game changer as besides giving the Malaysian authorities the means to enforce certification standards, it would also enable the country to set itself apart in international markets and brand its palm oil as the premier choice, said a journal.

For a start, the MSPO will give the Malaysian authorities the means to enforce certification standards, which is a key difference between to the Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

“Enforcement itself will become more effective as MSPO ties in with existing instruments, for example, the official licences required for anyone operating in the palm oil business and issued by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),” said the journal entitled: “Building a Sustainable Future Together: Malaysian Palm Oil and European Consumption.”

Another advantage of the MSPO that would benefit the industry is that with a rigorous and internationally accepted certification standard of its own, Malaysia can set itself apart in the international markets and brand the Malaysian Palm Oil as the premier choice, said the journal jointly-written by Malaysian Palm Oil Council Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kalyana Sundram, its Regional Manager in Europe, Uthaya Kumar, and Consultant, Frank Vogelgesang.

Hence, Malaysia sees various advantages in the MSPO despite the enormous cost and effort necessary to push it through.

And it is for this very reason, the Malaysian authorities have determined to resolve this (official licences and certification process) by providing financial incentives throughout the palm oil production chain in the country to become MSPO compliant and certified, it said.

The MSPO is operated by the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council and becomes mandatory by December 2019.

Given the demanding standards of the MSPO, the success of the scheme is also in the interest of European lawmakers, it said.

Finding a way for the European Union (EU) to accept MSPO as a best in class practice would make it much easier to raise acceptance with local producers as well. Certification is not a one-way street.

“Credible commitments only work when they are accepted. By supporting national schemes like the MSPO, the EU could bring 100 per cent Certified Sustainable Palm Oil a lot closer,” it added.

Source: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/mspo-will-enable-malaysia-to-brand-its-palm-oil-as-the-premier-choice/