RSPO Criteria Final Guidance With NI Document

RSPO Principles and
Criteria for Sustainable

Palm Oil Production
Guidance Document
Format to emphasize Guidance for National Interpretation
March 2006
RSPO Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production. Guidance Document. March 2006
Guidance for fulfilling the Principles and Criteria for

Sustainable Palm Oil Production
Preamble
Sustainable palm oil production is comprised of legal, economically viable,
environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial management and operations.
This is delivered through the application of the following set of principles and
criteria, and the accompanying guidance.
These criteria and guidance will be applied for an initial pilot implementation period
up to November 2007, and will be reviewed at the end of this period. The objective
of the pilot implementation period is to enable field testing of the principles and
criteria, and thereby allow guidance to be improved. The development of more
detailed guidance for application of the principles and criteria by smallholders will be
an important aspect of this. During this initial period, national interpretations will
also be developed.
This Guidance Document defines indicators and guidance for each criterion.
Indicators are specific pieces of objective evidence that must be in place to
demonstrate or verify that the criterion is being met. Guidance consists of useful
information to help the grower/miller and auditor understand what the criterion
means in practice, including in some cases specific guidance for national
interpretation of the criterion and for application by smallholders.
Preamble
2
Guidance for fulfilling the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production
Principle 1: Commitment to transparency
Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation
Criterion 1.1 Oil palm growers and Indicators: No specific guidance.

millers provide adequate
Records of requests and responses must be maintained.
information to other stakeholders
on environmental, social and legal Guidance:
issues relevant to RSPO Criteria, in Growers and millers should respond constructively and promptly
appropriate languages & forms to to requests for information from stakeholders.
allow for effective participation in
See criterion 1.2 for requirements relating to publicly available
decision making.
documentation.
See also criterion 6.2 relating to consultation.
Criterion 1.2 Management Indicators: For national interpretation, specific

documents are publicly available, approaches to personal privacy
This concerns management documents relating to
except where this is prevented by safeguards, including any legal
environmental, social and legal issues that are relevant to
commercial confidentiality or where requirements, should be considered.
compliance with RSPO Criteria. Documents that must be publicly
disclosure of information would
available include, but are not necessarily limited to:
result in negative environmental or
social outcomes. • Land titles/user rights (criterion 2.2).
• Health and safety plan (4.7).
Guidance for Principle 1: Commitment to transparency 3

• Plans and impact assessments relating to environmental and

social impacts (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 7.3).
• Pollution prevention plans (5.6).
• Details of complaints and grievances (6.3).
• Negotiation procedures (6.4).
• Continuous improvement plan (8.1).
Guidance:
Examples of commercially confidential information include

financial data such as costs and income, and details relating to
customers and/or suppliers. Data that affects personal privacy
should also be confidential.
Examples of information where disclosure could result in

potential negative environmental or social outcomes include
information on sites of rare species where disclosure could
increase the risk of hunting or capture for trade, or sacred sites
which a community wish to maintain as private.
Guidance for Principle 1: Commitment to transparency 4

Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Criterion 2.1 There is Indicators: For national interpretation, all

compliance with all applicable relevant legislation should be
• Evidence of compliance with relevant legal requirements.
local, national and ratified identified, and any particularly
international laws and • A documented system, which includes written information on important requirements identified.
regulations. legal requirements. Contradictions and inconsistencies
• A mechanism for ensuring that they are implemented. should be identified and solutions
suggested.
• A system for tracking any changes in the law.
The systems used should be appropriate to the scale of the

organisation.
Guidance:
Implementing all legal requirements is an essential baseline

requirement for all growers whatever their location or size. Relevant
legislation includes, but is not limited to, regulations governing land
tenure and land-use rights, labour, agricultural practices (e.g.,
chemical use), environment (e.g., wildlife laws, pollution,
environmental management and forestry laws), storage,
transportation and processing practices. It also includes laws made
pursuant to a country’s obligations under international laws or
conventions (e.g. the Convention on Biodiversity, CBD).
Guidance for Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations 5

For small-scale producers the focus should be on the grower having

adequate knowledge of the main legal requirements and
implementing them.
Key international laws and conventions are set out in Annex 1.
Criterion 2.2 The right to use Indicators: For national interpretations, any
the land can be demonstrated, customary land use rights or
• Documents showing legal ownership or lease, history of land
and is not legitimately disputes which are likely to be
tenure and the actual legal use of the land.
contested by local communities relevant should be identified.
with demonstrable rights. • Where there are, or have been, disputes, additional proof of
legal acquisition of title and that fair compensation has been
made to previous owners and occupants; and that these have
been accepted with free prior and informed consent.
• Absence of significant land conflict, unless requirements for

acceptable conflict resolution processes (criteria 6.3 and 6.4) are
implemented and accepted by the parties involved.
Criterion 2.3 Use of the land for Indicators: For national interpretations, any
oil palm does not diminish the commonly encountered situations
• Maps showing extent of recognised customary rights (criteria
legal rights, or customary should be identified.
2.3, 7.5 and 7.6)
rights, of other users, without
their free, prior and informed • Copies of negotiated agreements detailing process of consent
consent. (criteria 2.3, 7.5 and 7.6)
Guidance:

Where lands are encumbered by legal or customary rights, the

grower must demonstrate that these rights are understood and are
not being threatened or reduced. This criterion should be
considered in conjunction with criteria 6.4, 7.5 and 7.6 . Where
customary rights areas are unclear these are best established
through participatory mapping exercises involving affected and
neighbouring communities.
This criterion allows for sales and negotiated agreements to

compensate other users for lost benefits and/or relinquished rights.
Negotiated agreements should be non-coercive and entered into
voluntarily, carried out prior to new investments or operations and
based on an open sharing of all relevant information in appropriate
forms and languages, including assessments of impacts, proposed
benefit sharing and legal arrangements. Communities must be
permitted to seek legal counsel if they so choose. Communities
must be represented through institutions or representatives of their
own choosing, operating transparently and in open communication
with other community members. Adequate time must be given for
customary decision-making and iterative negotiations allowed for,
where requested. Negotiated agreements should be binding on all
parties and enforceable in the courts. Establishing certainty in land
negotiations is of long-term benefit for all parties.
For definition of ‘customary rights’, see definitions.

Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability
Criterion 3.1 There is an Indicators: No specific guidance.

implemented management plan
• A documented business or management plan (minimum 3 years).
that aims to achieve long-term
economic and financial • A procedure in place to capture new information and techniques
viability. and a mechanism for disseminating this information throughout
the workforce. For large organisations and smallholder
management schemes this procedure must be documented.
Guidance:
Whilst it is recognised that long-term profitability is also affected by

factors outside their direct control, top management must be able to
demonstrate attention to economic and financial viability through
long-term management planning.
The business or management plan may contain:
• Attention to quality of planting materials.
• Crop projection = FFB yield trends.
• Mill extraction rates = OER trends.
• Cost of Production = cost per tonne of CPO trends.
• Forecast prices.
Guidance for Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability 8

• Financial indicators.
• Suggested calculation – trends in 3-year running mean over the

last decade (FFB trends may need to allow for low yield during
major replanting programmes).
For smallholder management schemes the content would vary from

that suggested.
Growers should have a system to improve practices in line with new

information and techniques. For smallholder schemes, the scheme
management will be expected to provide their members with
information on significant improvements.
This criterion is not applicable to individual smallholders.
Guidance for Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability 9

Principle 4: Use of appropriate best practices by growers and millers
Criterion 4.1 Operating Indicators: For national interpretation, national

procedures are appropriately codes of practice or Best
• A mechanism to check consistent implementation of
documented and consistently Management Practices (BMPs) should
procedures.
implemented and monitored. be referenced.
• Records of measurable results are maintained.
Guidance:
For individual smallholders working practices will have to be

consistent with documented procedures provided by customers or
smallholder organisations.
Criterion 4.2 Practices maintain Indicators: National interpretation should

soil fertility at, or where possible identify the range of appropriate
• Monitoring of soil organic matter content trends.
improve soil fertility to, a level techniques.
that ensures optimal and • Monitoring of net fertilizer inputs (farm gate measures of
sustained yield. exports versus fertilizer use).
Guidance:
Long-term fertility depends on maintaining the structure, organic

matter content, nutrient status and microbiological health of the
soil. Managers should ensure that best agricultural practice is
followed. Nutrient efficiency must take account of the age of
plantations and soil conditions.
Guidance for Principle 4: Use of appropriate best practices by growers and mills 10
Smallholders should be able to demonstrate that they have an

understanding of the techniques required to maintain soil fertility
and that they are being implemented.
Criterion 4.3 Practices minimise Indicators: National interpretation should refer

and control erosion and to national guidance, and identify
• Monitoring of percentage of ground surface protected from
degradation of soils. the best management practices and
impact of raindrops.
appropriate techniques for
• Monitoring of percentage of planting on slopes above a maintaining soil quality in local
certain limit (needs to be soil specific). conditions, including guidance on
• Presence of road maintenance programme. soil types, and any appropriate
performance thresholds, such as
Guidance:
maximum acceptable slope gradient
Techniques that minimise soil erosion are well-known and should for planting.
be adopted, wherever appropriate. This may include practices
such as:
• Planning and implementing ground clearance to minimise

erosion.
• Ensuring adequate ground cover and avoiding over-spraying of

herbicides.
• Using irrigation practices that are designed and implemented

to minimise erosion.
• Controlling erosion wherever needed, including terracing

where appropriate.
• Appropriately designing and maintaining roads.
• Avoiding planting on steeply sloping land or highly erodible

soil-types.
• Maintaining and restoring riparian areas in order to minimise

erosion of stream banks.
• After felling the old stand, retaining residue where soil erosion
risk is significant or a cover crop or rotation crop should be
planted. Burning should not be used to remove residues,
except in specific situations (see criterion 5.5).
Smallholders should be able to demonstrate that they have an

understanding of the techniques required to minimise soil erosion
and that they are being implemented.
Criterion 4.4 Practices maintain Indicators: National interpretation should refer

the quality and availability of to national guidelines or best
• An implemented water management plan.
surface and ground water. practice and where appropriate
• Monitoring of effluent BOD. include performance thresholds for
• Monitoring of mill water use per tonne of FFB . requirements such as the size and
location of riparian strips or
Guidance:
acceptable maximum runoff levels.
Growers and millers should address the effects of their use of

water and the effects of their activities on local water resources.
Practices may include:
• Taking account of the efficiency of use and renewability of

sources.
• Ensuring that the use of water does not result in adverse

impacts on availability for downstream users.
• Protection of water courses and wetlands, including

maintaining and restoring appropriate riparian buffer zones
along all bodies of water.
• Avoiding contamination of surface and ground water through

run-off of soil, nutrients or chemicals, or as a result of
inadequate disposal of waste.
• Appropriate treatment of mill effluent and regular monitoring

of discharge quality, which should be in compliance with
national regulations.
Criterion 4.5 Pests, diseases, Indicators: National interpretation should

weeds and invasive introduced provide further guidance on what
• Monitoring of pesticide toxicity units (a.i. x LD 50 / tonne of
species are effectively managed practices are most appropriate for a
FFB).
using appropriate Integrated Pest particular country, and where
Management (IPM) techniques. • Monitoring extent of IPM implementation / total ha. needed, on practices which are

appropriate to smallholders.
• A programme to monitor pests and diseases must be in place.
Due to problems in the accuracy of measurement, monitoring of

pesticide toxicity is not applicable to smallholders.
Guidance:
Growers should apply recognised IPM techniques, incorporating

cultural, biological, mechanical or physical methods to minimise
use of chemicals.
Native species should be used in biological control wherever

possible.
Criterion 4.6 Agrochemicals are Indicators: National interpretation should

used in a way that does not consider: statutory requirements
• Justification of all chemical use.
endanger health or the concerning pesticide use, lists of
environment. There is no • Records of pesticide use (including active ingredients used, legally prohibited agrochemicals,
prophylactic use, and where area treated, amount applied per ha and number of agrochemical residues that should
agrochemicals are used that are applications). be tested for and the appropriate
categorised as World Health • Documentary evidence that use of chemicals categorised as levels of residues, and best
Organisation Type 1A or 1B, or World Health Organisation Type 1A or 1B, or listed by the management practices for pesticide
are listed by the Stockholm or Stockholm or Rotterdam Conventions, and paraquat, is use or sources of information on
Rotterdam Conventions, growers reduced and/or eliminated. these.
are actively seeking to identify
• Use of selective products that are specific to the target pest,
alternatives, and this is

documented. weed or disease and which have minimal effect on non-target
species should be used where available. However, measures to
avoid the development of resistance (such as pesticide
rotations) are applied.
• Chemicals should only be applied by qualified persons who

have received the necessary training and should always be
applied in accordance with the product label. Appropriate
safety equipment must be provided and used. All precautions
attached to the products should be properly observed,
applied, and understood by workers. Also see criterion 4.7 on
health and safety.
• Storage of all chemicals as prescribed in FAO Code of Practice

(see Annex 1). All chemical containers must be properly
disposed of and not used for other purposes (see criterion
5.3).
• Application of pesticides by proven methods that minimise

risk and impacts. Pesticides are applied aerially only where
there is a documented justification.
• Evidence of CPO residue testing, as required by the supply

chain.
• Proper disposal of waste material, according to procedures

that are fully understood by workers and managers. Also see
criterion 5.3 on waste disposal.
• Annual health screening for pesticide operators.
Guidance:
Note: RSPO will identify safe and cost effective alternatives to

replace chemicals that are categorised as World Health
Organisation Type 1A or 1B, or listed by the Stockholm or
Rotterdam Conventions, and paraquat. Results will be collated
and reported by November 2007.
Criterion 4.7 An occupational Indicators: For national interpretation, all legal

health and safety plan is requirements together with any local
The health and safety plan covers the following:
documented, effectively or national guidance on safe
communicated and implemented. • A health and safety policy, which is implemented and working practice in agriculture
monitored. should be identified and used. It will
• All operations where health and safety is an issue have been also be important to identify what
risk assessed and procedures and actions are documented and constitutes a ‘hazardous’ operation
implemented to address the identified issues. All precautions in the local context.
attached to products should be properly observed and applied
to the workers.
• All workers involved in the operations have been adequately

trained in safe working practices (see also criterion 4.8).

Adequate protective equipment should be available to
labourers at the place of work to cover all potentially
hazardous operations, such as pesticide application, land
preparation, harvesting and, if it is used, burning.
• The responsible person should be identified. There are

records of regular meetings between the responsible person
and workers where concerns of workers about health, safety
and welfare are discussed.
• Accident and emergency procedures should exist and

instructions should be clearly understood by all workers.
Accident procedures should be available in the appropriate
language of the workforce. Workers trained in First Aid should
be present in both field and other farm operations and first
aid equipment should be available at worksites. Records
should be kept of all accidents and periodically reviewed.
Workers should be covered by accident insurance.
• Recording of occupational injuries. Suggested calculation: Lost

Time Accident (LTA) rate (either specify acceptable maximum,
or demonstrate downward trend).
Guidance:
Growers and millers should ensure that the workplaces,

machinery, equipment, transport and processes under their

control are safe and without undue risk to health. Growers and
millers should ensure that the chemical, physical and biological
substances and agents under their control are without undue risk
to health when appropriate measures are taken. A safe and
healthy working environment should be provided for all workers
whether they are employees or contractors.
The health and safety plan should also reflect guidance in ILO
Convention 184 (see Annex 1).
For individual smallholders, a more informal approach to

documentation and record keeping is acceptable, provided that
working practices for all workers are safe.
Criterion 4.8 All staff, workers, Indicators: For national interpretation,

smallholders and contractors are appropriate occupational training
• A formal training programme that includes regular assessment
appropriately trained. qualifications should be identified.
of training needs and documentation of the programme.
• Records of training for each employee are kept.
The training programme should be appropriate to the scale of the

organisation.
Guidance:
Training should be given to all staff, workers and contractors by

growers and millers to enable them to fulfil their jobs and

responsibilities in accordance with documented procedures, and
in compliance with the requirements of these principles, criteria
and guidance.
Workers on smallholder plots also need adequate training and

skills and this can be achieved through extension activities of
growers or mills that purchase fruit from them, by smallholders’
organisations, or through collaboration with other institutions and
organisations. For smallholders training records should not be
required but anyone working on the farm should be adequately
trained for the job they are doing.
Principle 5: Environmental responsibility and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity
Criterion 5.1 Aspects of plantation Indicators: National interpretation should

and mill management that have consider any national legal
• Documented impact assessment.
environmental impacts are requirements together with any
identified, and plans to mitigate • Appropriate management planning and operational other issues that are not required by
the negative impacts and promote procedures. law but are nevertheless important.
the positive ones are made, • Where the identification of impacts requires changes in
implemented and monitored, to current practices, in order to mitigate negative effects, a
demonstrate continuous timetable for change should be developed.
improvement.
Guidance:
Environmental impact assessment may cover the following

activities:
• Building new roads, processing mills or other infrastructure.
• Putting in drainage or irrigation systems.
• Replanting or expansion of planting area.
• Disposal of mill effluents (see criterion 4.4);
• Clearing of remaining natural vegetation.
Environmental impacts may be identified on soil and water

resources, air quality (see criterion 5.6), biodiversity and
Guidance for Principle 5: Environmental responsibility and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity 20

ecosystems, and people’s amenity (see criterion 6.1 for social
impacts), both on and off-site.
Stakeholder consultation has a key role in identifying

environmental impacts. The inclusion of consultation should
result in improved processes to identify impacts and to develop
any required mitigation measures.
It is important that where activities, techniques or operations

change over time, identifications of impacts, and any required
mitigation, are updated as necessary.
For smallholder schemes, the scheme management has the

responsibility to undertake impact assessment and to plan and
operate in accordance with the results. Individual smallholders
would not be expected to undertake formal impact assessments
(unless there is a legal requirement) but should have a good
understanding of the potential negative impacts of their activities
and appropriate mitigation techniques.
Criterion 5.2 The status of rare, Indicators: For national interpretation,

threatened or endangered species appropriate sources of information
Information should be collated that includes both the planted
and high conservation value include government or international
area itself and relevant wider landscape-level considerations (such
habitats, if any, that exist in the lists of threatened species (‘red data
as wildlife corridors). This information should cover:
plantation or that could be lists’), national wildlife protection
affected by plantation or mill • Presence of protected areas that could be significantly legislation, authorities responsible

management, shall be identified affected by the grower or miller. for protected areas and species, or
and their conservation taken into relevant NGOs.
• Conservation status (e.g. IUCN status), legal protection,
account in management plans and
population status and habitat requirements of rare,
operations.
threatened, or endangered species, that could be significantly
affected by the grower or miller.
• Identification of high conservation value habitats, such as rare

and threatened ecosystems, that could be significantly
affected by the grower or miller.
If rare, threatened or endangered species, or high conservation

value habitats, are present, appropriate measures for
management planning and operations will include:
• Ensuring that any legal requirements relating to the

protection of the species or habitat are met.
• Avoiding damage to and deterioration of applicable habitats.
• Controlling any illegal or inappropriate hunting, fishing or

collecting activities; and developing responsible measures to
resolve human-wildlife conflicts (e.g., incursions by
elephants).
Guidance:
This information gathering should include checking available

biological records, and consultation with relevant government
departments, research institutes and interested NGOs if
appropriate. Depending on the biodiversity values that are
present, and the level of available information, some additional
field survey work may be required.
For individual smallholders, a basic understanding of any

applicable species or habitats, together with their conservation
needs, will be sufficient.
Criterion 5.3 Waste is reduced, Indicators: National interpretation could

recycled, re-used and disposed of include, as appropriate: details of
• Waste management and disposal plan.
in an environmentally and socially relevant national laws or policies, a
responsible manner. • Safe disposal of pesticide containers. list of waste types which must be
Guidance: considered, any types of disposal
which are not acceptable (e.g.
The waste management and disposal plan should include
untreated waste water may not be
measures for:
discharged directly into streams or
• Identifying and monitoring sources of waste and pollution. rivers – refer to criterion 4.4),
existing best practice guidelines on
• Improving the efficiency of resource utilisation and recycling
recycling and re-use of nutrients,
potential wastes as nutrients or converting them into value-
managing effluent ponds, increasing
added products (e.g. through animal feeding programmes).
mill extraction efficiency and
• Appropriate disposal of hazardous chemicals and their appropriate disposal of wastes.
containers. Surplus chemical containers should be disposed of

or cleaned in an environmentally and socially responsible way
(e.g. returned to the vendor or cleaned using a triple rinse
method), such that there is no risk of contamination of water
sources or to human health. The disposal instructions on
manufacturer’s labels should be adhered to.
Smallholders should adopt appropriate measures to dispose of

hazardous chemicals and their containers.
Criterion 5.4 Efficiency of energy Indicators: No specific guidance.

use and use of renewable energy
• Monitoring of renewable energy use per tonne of CPO/FFB.
is maximised.
• Monitoring of fossil fuel use per ton of CPO (or FFB where the
grower has no mill).
Guidance:
Growers and mills should assess the energy use of their

operations and energy efficiency of their operations.
The feasibility of collecting and using biogas should be studied if

possible.
Criterion 5.5 Use of fire for waste Indicators: National interpretation should
disposal and for preparing land identify any specific situations where
• Documented assessment where fire has been used for
for replanting is avoided except in such use of fire may be acceptable,
preparing land for replanting.
specific situations, as identified in for example through reference to
Guidance:

the ASEAN guidelines or other ‘Guidelines for the implementation
Fire should be used only where an assessment has demonstrated
regional best practice. of the ASEAN policy on zero
that it is the most effective and least environmentally damaging
burning’, or comparable guidelines
option for minimising the risk of severe pest and disease
in other locations.
outbreaks, and with evidence that fire-use is carefully controlled.
Use of fire on peat soils should be avoided.
Extension/training programmes for smallholders may be

necessary.
Criterion 5.6 Plans to reduce Indicators: No specific guidance.

pollution and emissions, including
• An assessment of all polluting activities must be conducted,
greenhouse gases, are developed,
including gaseous emissions, particulate/soot emissions and
implemented and monitored.
effluent (see also criterion 4.4). Significant pollutants and
emissions must be identified and plans to reduce them
implemented.
• A monitoring system must be in place for these significant

pollutants which goes beyond national compliance.
• Monitoring of methane from effluent digestion and smoke

particles. This may require the use of proxy measures.
Principle 6: Responsible consideration of employees and of individuals and communities affected by

growers and mills
Criterion 6.1 Aspects of Indicators: As social impacts are particularly

plantation and mill management dependent on local social
• A documented social impact assessment.
that have social impacts are conditions, national interpretation
identified in a participatory way, • Evidence that the assessment has been done with the should identify the important issues,
and plans to mitigate the participation of affected parties. Participation in this context and methodologies for collecting
negative impacts and promote means that affected parties are able to express their views data and using the results. This
the positive ones are made, through their own representative institutions during the should include adequate
implemented and monitored, to identification of impacts, reviewing findings and plans for consideration of the impacts on the
demonstrate continuous mitigation, and monitoring the success of implemented plans. customary or traditional rights of
improvement. • A timetable with responsibilities for mitigation and monitoring, local communities and indigenous
reviewed and updated as necessary, in those cases where the people, where these exist (see also
assessment has concluded that changes should be made to criteria 2.3 and 6.4).
current practices.
• Particular attention paid to the impacts of outgrower schemes

(where the plantation includes such a scheme).
Guidance:
Identification of social impacts should be carried out by the grower

with the participation of affected parties as appropriate to the
situation. The involvement of independent experts should be
Guidance for Principle 6: Responsible consideration of employees and of individuals and communities affected by growers and mills 26

sought where this is considered necessary to ensure that all
impacts (both positive and negative) are identified.
Potential social impacts may result from activities such as: building
new roads, processing mills or other infrastructure; replanting with
different crops or expansion of planting area; disposal of mill
effluents; clearing of remaining natural vegetation; changes in
employee numbers or employment terms.
Plantation and mill management may have social impacts (positive

or negative) on factors such as:
• Access and use rights.
• Economic livelihoods (e.g. paid employment) and working

conditions.
• Subsistence activities.
• Cultural and religious values.
• Health and education facilities.
• Other community values, resulting from changes such as

improved transport /communication or arrival of substantial
migrant labour force.
Individual smallholders will not be required to conduct formal

social impact assessments.
Criterion 6.2 There are open and Indicators: National interpretation should
transparent methods for consider issues such as appropriate
• Documented consultation and communication procedures.
communication and consultation levels of consultation and the types
between growers and/or millers, • A nominated manager responsible for these issues. of organisations or individuals that
local communities and other • Maintenance of a list of stakeholders, records of all should be included.
affected or interested parties. communication and records of actions taken in response to
input from stakeholders.
Guidance:
Decisions that the growers or mills are planning to make should be

made clear, so that local communities and other interested parties
understand the purpose of the communication and/or consultation.
Communication and consultation mechanisms should be designed

in collaboration with local communities and other affected or
interested parties. These should consider the use of existing local
mechanisms and languages. Consideration should be given to the
existence/formation of a multi-stakeholder forum.
Communications should take into account differential access to
information of women as compared to men, village leaders as
compared to day labourers, new versus established community
groups, and different ethnic groups.
Consideration should be given to involving third parties, such as

disinterested community groups, NGOs, or government (or a
combination of these), to facilitate smallholder schemes and
communities, and others as appropriate, in these communications.
For individual smallholders, this criterion does not apply.
Criterion 6.3 There is a mutually Indicators: No specific guidance.

agreed and documented system
• The system resolves disputes in an effective, timely and
for dealing with complaints and
appropriate manner.
grievances, which is
implemented and accepted by all • Documentation of both the process by which a dispute was
parties. resolved and the outcome.
• The system is open to any affected parties.
Guidance:
Dispute resolution mechanisms should be established through

open and consensual agreements with relevant affected parties.
Complaints may be dealt with by mechanisms such as Joint

Consultative Committees (JCC). Grievances may be internal
(employees) or external.
For smallholder schemes, the company or associations will be

responsible for this. Individual smallholders should not be
expected to have a documented system, but must be able to show
that they respond constructively to any issue or complaint.
Criterion 6.4 Any negotiations Indicators: No specific guidance.

concerning compensation for
• Establishment of a procedure for identifying legal and
loss of legal or customary rights
customary rights and a procedure for identifying people
are dealt with through a
entitled to compensation.
documented system that enables
indigenous peoples, local • A procedure for calculating and distributing fair compensation
communities and other (monetary or otherwise) is established and implemented. This
stakeholders to express their takes into account gender differences in the power to claim
views through their own rights, ownership and access to land; differences of
representative institutions. transmigrants and long-established communities; differences in
ethnic groups’ proof of legal versus communal ownership of
land.
• The process and outcome of any negotiated agreements and

compensation claims is documented and made publicly
available.
Guidance:
This criterion should be considered in conjunction with Criterion

2.3 and the associated guidance.
Criterion 6.5 Pay and conditions Indicators: No specific guidance.

for employees and for employees
• Documentation of pay and conditions.
of contractors always meet at
least legal or industry minimum • Labour laws, union agreements or direct contracts of

standards and are sufficient to employment detailing payments and conditions of employment
meet basic needs of personnel (e.g., working hours, deductions, overtime, sickness, holiday
and to provide some entitlement, maternity leave, reasons for dismissal, period of
discretionary income. notice, etc) are available in the languages understood by the
workers or explained carefully to them by a senior company
official.
• Growers and millers provide adequate housing, water supplies,

medical, educational and welfare amenities to national
standard or above, where no such public facilities are available
or accessible (not applicable to smallholders).
Guidance:
Where temporary or migrant workers are employed, a special

labour policy should be established. This labour policy would state
the non discriminatory practices; no contract substitution; post
arrival orientation program to focus especially on language, safety,
labour laws, cultural practices etc; decent living conditions to be
provided.
Criterion 6.6 The employer Indicators: No specific guidance.

respects the right of all
• A published statement in local languages recognizing freedom
personnel to form and join trade
of association.
unions of their choice and to
bargain collectively. Where the • Documented minutes of meetings with main trade unions or

right to freedom of association workers representatives.
and collective bargaining are
Guidance:
restricted under law, the
employer facilitates parallel The right of employees and contractors to form associations and
means of independent and free bargain collectively with their employer should be respected, in
association and bargaining for accordance with Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour
all such personnel. Organisation.
Labour laws and union agreements or in their absence, direct

contracts of employment detailing payments and other conditions,
are available in the languages understood by the workers or
explained carefully to them by a senior company official.
Criterion 6.7 Child labour is not Indicators: No specific guidance.

used. Children are not exposed
• Documentary evidence that minimum age requirement is met.
to hazardous working
conditions. Work by children is Guidance:
acceptable on family farms, Growers and millers should clearly define the minimum working
under adult supervision, and age, together with working hours. Only workers above the
when not interfering with minimum school leaving age in the country or who are at least 15
education programmes. years old may be employed, with the stated exception of family
farms. The minimum age of workers will not be less than stated
under national regulations. Smallholders should allow work by
children only if permitted by national regulations. The minimum
age of workers should be not less than 15 years, or the minimum

school leaving age, or the minimum age permitted under national
regulations, where higher. Smallholders should allow work by
children only if permitted by national regulations.
Criterion 6.8 The employer shall Indicators: No specific guidance.

not engage in or support
• A publicly available equal opportunities policy including
discrimination based on race,
identification of relevant/affected groups in the local
caste, national origin, religion,
environment.
disability, gender, sexual
orientation, union membership, • Evidence that employees and groups including migrant workers
political affiliation, or age. have not been discriminated against.
Criterion 6.9 A policy to prevent Indicators: No specific guidance.

sexual harassment and all other
• A policy on sexual harassment and violence in the workplace
forms of violence against women
and records of implementation.
and to protect their reproductive
rights is developed and applied. Guidance:
There should be a clear policy developed in consultation with

employees, contractors and other relevant stakeholders, and the
policy should be publicly available. Progress in implementing the
policy should be regularly monitored, and the results of monitoring
activities should be recorded.
A gender committee specifically to address areas of concern to

women may be requested to comply with the criteria. This

committee, to have representatives from all areas of work, will
consider matters such as; trainings on women’s rights, counselling
for women affected by violence, child care facilities to be provided
by the growers and millers, women to be allowed to breastfeed up
to nine months before resuming chemical spraying or usage tasks,
and women to be given specific break times to enable effective
breastfeeding.
Criterion 6.10 Growers and mills Indicators: No specific guidance.

deal fairly and transparently with
• Current and past prices paid for FFB shall be publicly available.
smallholders and other local
businesses. • Pricing mechanisms for FFB and inputs/services shall be
documented (where these are under the control of the mill or
plantation).
• Evidence shall be available that all parties understand the

contractual agreements they enter into, and that contracts are
fair, legal and transparent.
• Agreed payments shall be made in a timely manner.
Guidance:
Transactions with smallholders should consider issues such as the

role of middle men, transport and storage of FFB, quality and
grading. The need to recycle the nutrients in FFB (under 4.2)
should also be considered; where it is not practicable to recycle

wastes to smallholders, compensation for the value of the nutrients
exported might be made via the FFB price.
Smallholders must have access to the grievance procedure under

criterion 6.3, if they consider that they are not receiving a fair price
for FFB, whether or not middle men are involved.
The need for a fair and transparent pricing mechanism is

particularly important for outgrowers, who are contractually
obliged to sell all FFB to a particular mill.
If mills require smallholders to change practices to meet the RSPO

criteria, consideration must be given to the costs of such changes,
and the possibility of advance payments for FFB could be
considered.
Criterion 6.11 Growers and Indicators: National interpretation should

millers contribute to local consider specific parameters or
• Demonstrable contributions to local development that are
sustainable development thresholds such as use of local and
based on the results of consultation with local communities.
wherever appropriate. national goods and services where
Guidance: possible, whether a certain
Contributions to local development should be based on the results percentage of the plantation’s
of consultation with local communities. See also criterion 6.2. Such profit/turnover should be used for
consultation should be based on the principles of transparency, social development projects, and
openness and participation, and should encourage communities to minimum quotas for local
identify their own priorities and needs, including the different employment.

needs of men and women.
Where candidates for employment are of equal merit, preference

should always be given to members of local communities. Positive
discrimination should not be recognized as conflicting with
Criterion 6.8.
Principle 7: Responsible development of new plantings
Criterion 7.1 A comprehensive and Indicators: National interpretation should

participatory independent social identify the relevant accreditations
• Independent impact assessment, undertaken through a
and environmental impact for independent experts.
participatory methodology including external stakeholder
assessment is undertaken prior to
groups. National interpretation should
establishing new plantings or
consider setting a minimum
operations, or expanding existing • Appropriate management planning and operational
threshold of the size of new
ones, and the results incorporated procedures.
plantings, e.g. 50 ha, above which
into planning, management and • Where the development includes an outgrower scheme, the an SEIA is required. Consider listing
operations. impacts of the scheme and the implications of the way it is unacceptable negative social
managed should be given particular attention. impacts (e.g., displacement, loss of
Guidance: the food security of local people,
etc.) in the national context.
See also criteria 5.1 and 6.1.
The impact assessment should be carried out by accredited

independent experts, in order to ensure an objective process. A
participatory methodology including external stakeholder groups
is essential to the identification of impacts, particularly social
impacts. Stakeholders such as local communities, government
departments and NGOs should be involved, through the use of
interviews and meetings, and by reviewing findings and plans for
mitigation.
Guidance for Principle 7: Responsible development of new plantings 37

The potential impacts of all major proposed activities should be

assessed prior to development. The assessment should include,
in no order of preference, as a minimum:
• Assessment of the impacts of all major planned activities,

including planting, mill operations, roads and other
infrastructure.
• Assessment, including stakeholder consultation, of High

Conservation Values (see criterion 7.3) that could be
negatively affected.
• Assessment of potential effects on adjacent natural

ecosystems of planned developments, including whether
development or expansion will increase pressure on nearby
natural ecosystems.
• Identification of watercourses and assessment of potential

effects on hydrology by planned developments. Measures
should be planned and implemented to maintain the quantity
and quality of water resources.
• Baseline soil surveys and topographic information, including

the identification of marginal and fragile soils, areas prone to
erosion and slopes unsuitable for planting.
• Analysis of type of land to be used (forest, degraded forest,


cleared land).
• Analysis of land ownership and user rights.
• Analysis of current land use patterns.
• Assessment of potential social impact on surrounding

communities of a plantation, including an analysis of
differential effect on women versus men, ethnic
communities, migrant versus long-term residents.
Plans and field operations should be developed and implemented

to incorporate the results of the assessment. One potential
outcome of the assessment process is that the development
should not proceed, because of the magnitude of potential
impacts.
For smallholder schemes, the scheme management should do

this. For individuals, it does not apply.
Criterion 7.2 Soil surveys and Indicators: National interpretation should

topographic information are used specify the local or national code of
This activity should be integrated with the SEIA required by 7.1.
for site planning in the practice or other guidelines that
establishment of new plantings, Guidance: should be followed; or set out what
and the results are incorporated Soil surveys should be adequate to establish the long-term ‘good practice’ constitutes within
into plans and operations. suitability of land for oil palm cultivation. Soil suitability maps or the local and national context.
soil surveys should be appropriate to the scale of operation and


should include information on soil types, topography, rooting
depth, moisture availability, stoniness, fertility and long-term soil
sustainability. Soils unsuitable for planting or those requiring
special treatment should be identified. This information should
be used to plan planting programmes, etc. Measures should be
planned to minimise erosion through appropriate use of heavy
machinery, terracing on slopes, appropriate road construction,
rapid establishment of cover, protection of riverbanks, etc.
Topographic information should guide the planning of drainage

and irrigation systems, roads and other infrastructure.
Assessing soil suitability is also important for small-scale

producers, particularly where there are significant numbers
operating in a particular location. Information may be collected
and provided by a smallholder organisation or mill that
purchases FFB from individual smallholders.
Criterion 7.3 New plantings since Indicators: National interpretation should refer
November 2005 (which is the to existing national definitions of
expected date of adoption of these HCVs (or where these do not exist
criteria by the RSPO membership), Guidance: refer to definitions in the annex) or
have not replaced primary forest or This criterion applies to forests and other vegetation types. This equivalent land-use/conservation
any area containing one or more applies irrespective of any changes in land ownership or farm plans or consider how growers and
High Conservation Values. management that have taken place after this date. High the audit team can identify High


Conservation Values (HCVs) may be identified in restricted areas Conservation Values. This may
of a landholding, and in such cases new plantings can be involve collaboration with other
planned to allow the HCVs to be maintained or enhanced. bodies.
The HCV assessment process requires appropriate training and

expertise, and must include consultation with local communities,
particularly for identifying social HCVs.
Development should actively seek to utilise previously cleared

and/or degraded land. Plantation development should not put
indirect pressure on forests through the use of all available
agricultural land in an area.
Although planned development may be consistent with

landscape level planning by national and local authorities, this
requirement for protection of social and biological HCVs must
still be complied with.
For definition of ‘High Conservation Values’, see definitions.
Criterion 7.4 Extensive planting on Indicators: National interpretation should

steep terrain, and/or on marginal consider including specific controls
and fragile soils, is avoided. and thresholds, such as slope limits,
Guidance: listing soil types that on which
Marginal and fragile soils, including excessive gradients and peat planting should be avoided
soils, should be identified prior to conversion to plantation. (especially peat soils), the
proportion of plantation area that


Planting on extensive areas of peat soils > 3m deep and other can include marginal/fragile soils,
fragile soils should be avoided. and/or definitions of ‘extensive’,
‘marginal’ and ‘fragile’.
Where limited planting on fragile and marginal soils is proposed,
plans shall be developed and implemented to protect them
without incurring adverse impacts (e.g., hydrological) or
significantly increased risks (e.g. fire risk) in areas outside the
plantation.
Criterion 7.5 No new plantings are Indicators: No specific guidance.

established on local peoples’ land
without their free, prior and
informed consent, dealt with Guidance:
through a documented system that Refer also to criteria and guidance for 2.2, 2.3, 6.2, 6.4 and 7.6
enables indigenous peoples, local for indicators of compliance.
communities and other
Where new plantings are considered to be acceptable,
stakeholders to express their views
management plans and operations should maintain sacred sites.
through their own representative
Agreements with indigenous peoples, local communities and
institutions.
other stakeholders should be made without coercion or other
undue influence (see guidance for 2.3).
Relevant stakeholders include those affected by or concerned

with the new plantings.
Criterion 7.6 Local people are Indicators: No specific guidance.


compensated for any agreed land
• Documented identification and assessment of legal and
acquisitions and relinquishment of
customary rights.
rights, subject to their free, prior
and informed consent and • Establishment of a system for identifying people entitled to
negotiated agreements. compensation.
• Establishment of a system for calculating and distributing fair

compensation (monetary or otherwise).
• Communities that have lost access and rights to land for

plantation expansion are given opportunities to benefit from
plantation development.
• The process and outcome of any compensation claims should

be documented and made publicly available.
• This activity should be integrated with the SEIA required by

7.1.
Guidance:
Refer also to 2.2, 2.3 and 6.4 and associated guidance.
This requirement includes indigenous peoples.
Criterion 7.7 Use of fire in the Indicators: National interpretation should

preparation of new plantings is identify any specific situations where
• Documented assessment where fire has been used for
avoided other than in specific such use of fire may be acceptable,
preparing land for planting.


situations, as identified in the for example through reference to
• This activity should be integrated with the SEIA required by
ASEAN guidelines or other regional ‘Guidelines for the implementation
7.1.
best practice. of the ASEAN policy on zero
Guidance: burning’, or comparable guidelines
Fire should be used only where an assessment has in other locations.
demonstrated that it is the most effective and least
environmentally damaging option for minimising the risk of
severe pest and disease outbreaks, and with evidence that fire-
use is carefully controlled.
Extension/training programmes for smallholders may be

necessary.

RSPO Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production. Draft Guidance Version 4. January 2006.
Principle 8: Commitment to continuous improvement in key areas of activity
Criterion 8.1 Growers and millers Indicators: National interpretation should

regularly monitor and review their include specific minimum
The action plan for continual improvement should be based on a
activities and develop and performance thresholds for key
consideration of the main social and environmental impacts and
implement action plans that allow indicators (see also criteria 4.2, 4.3,
opportunities of the grower/mill, and should include a range of
demonstrable continuous 4.4, and 4.5).
indicators covered by these principles and criteria. As a
improvement in key operations.
minimum, these must include, but not necessarily be limited to:
• Reduction in use of certain chemicals (criterion 4.6).
• Environmental impacts (criterion 5.1).
• Waste reduction (criterion 5.3).
• Pollution and emissions (criterion 5.6).
• Social impacts (6.1).
Guidance for Principle 8: Commitment to continuous improvement in key areas of activity 45

Definitions
Customary rights: Patterns of long standing community land and resource usage in
accordance with indigenous peoples’ customary laws, values, customs and traditions,
including seasonal or cyclical use rather than formal legal title to land and resources
issued by the State. (From World Bank Operational Policy 4.10).
Environmental Impact Assessment: a process of predicting and evaluating the

effects of an action or series of actions on the environment, then using the
conclusions as a tool in planning and decision-making.
High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF): The forest necessary to maintain or

enhance one or more High Conservation Values (HCVs):
• HCV1. Forest areas containing globally, regionally or nationally significant

concentrations of biodiversity values (e.g. endemism, endangered species).
• HCV2. Forest areas containing globally, regionally or nationally significant large

landscape level forests, contained within, or containing the management unit,
where viable populations of most if not all naturally occurring species exist in
natural patterns of distribution and abundance.
• HCV3. Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered

ecosystems.
• HCV4. Forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical situations (e.g.
watershed protection, erosion control).
• HCV5. Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities

(e.g. subsistence, health).
• HCV6. Forest areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity

(areas of cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance identified in
cooperation with such local communities).
(See: ‘The HCVF Toolkit’ – available from www.proforest.net)
ISO Standards: Standards developed by the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO: see http://www.iso.ch/iso).
Natural vegetation: Areas where many of the principal characteristics and key
elements of native ecosystems such as complexity, structure and diversity are
present.
Plantation: The land containing oil palm and associated land uses such as
infrastructure (e.g., roads), riparian zones and conservation set-asides.
Primary Forest: A primary forest is a forest that has never been logged and has
developed following natural disturbances and under natural processes, regardless of
its age. Also included as primary, are forests that are used inconsequentially by
Definitions 46
indigenous and local communities living traditional lifestyles relevant for the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The present cover is
normally relatively close to the natural composition and has arisen (predominantly)
through natural regeneration. National interpretations should consider whether a
more specific definition is required. (From FAO Second Expert Meeting On
Harmonizing Forest-Related Definitions For Use By Various Stakeholders, 2001,
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/005/Y4171E/Y4171
E11.htm).
Prophylactic: A treatment or course of action applied as a preventive measure.
Restore: Returning degraded or converted areas within the plantation to a semi-

natural state.
Smallholders: Farmers growing oil palm, sometimes along with subsistence

production of other crops, where the family provides the majority of labour and the
farm provides the principal source of income and where the planted area of oil palm
is usually below 50 hectares in size.
Stakeholders: An individual or group with a legitimate and/or demonstrable interest

in, or who is directly affected by, the activities of an organisation and the
consequences of those activities.
Outgrowers: Farmers, where the sale of FFB is exclusively contracted to the

grower/miller. Outgrowers may be smallholders.
Undue influence: The exertion by a third party of any kind of control such that a
person signs a contract or other agreement which, absent the influence of the third
party, he would not have signed.
Use rights: Rights for the use of forest resources that can be defined by local
custom, mutual agreements, or prescribed by other entities holding access rights.
These rights may restrict the use of particular resources to specific levels of
consumption or particular harvesting techniques.
Definitions 47
Annex 1
Principles International Key Summary of Protections

Standards provisions
Just Land ILO Convention Articles 13- Respect and safeguard

Acquisition 169 (1989) on 19 rights to lands and natural
Indigenous and resources traditionally
Tribal Peoples occupied and used; respect
for customs of inheritance;
no forced removals;
compensation for loss and
injury.
UN Convention on Article 10c) Protect and encourage

Biological Diversity customary use of biological
(1992) resources in accordance
with traditional practices.
Fair ILO Convention Articles 6-9 Represent themselves

Representation 169 (1989) on through their own
and Participation Indigenous and representative institutions;
of Indigenous Tribal Peoples consultations with objective
and Tribal of achieving agreement or
Peoples consent; rights to decide
their own priorities, retain
their own customs and
resolve offences according
to customary law
(compatible with
international human rights).
Convention on the UN CERD Free, Prior and Informed

Elimination of All Committee, Consent for decisions that
Forms of Racial UN may affect indigenous
Discrimination, Committee peoples.
International on Social
Covenant on Cultural and
Economic, Social Economic (This standard has been
and Cultural Rights, Inter- widely accepted as a ‘best
Rights, American practice’ standard by bodies
InterAmerican Commission such as World Commission
Annex 1 48
Human Rights on Human on Dams, Extractive

System. Rights.1 Industries Review, Forest
Stewardship Council, UNDP,
CBD, IUCN and WWF).
No Forced ILO Convention 29 Article 5 No concession to companies

Labour (1930) Forced shall involve any form of
Labour forced or compulsory
labour.
ILO Convention Article 1 Not make use of any form of

105 (1957) forced or compulsory
Abolition of Forced labour.
Labour
Protection of ILO Convention Articles 1-3 Abolition of child labour and

Children 138 (1973) definition of national
Minimum Age minimum age for labour not
less than 15-18 years
(depending on occupation).
ILO Convention Articles 1-7 Abolition of child slavery,

182 (1999) Worst debt bondage, trafficking
Forms of Child and procurement for
Labour prostitution; suitable
methods to monitor and
enforce compliance.
Freedom of ILO Convention 87 Articles 2-11 Freedom to join

Association and (1948) Freedom of organisations, federations
Collective Association and and confederations of their
Bargaining Protection of Right own choosing; with freely
to Organise chosen constitutions and
rules; measures to protect
the right to organise.
ILO Convention 98 Articles 1-4 Protection against anti-

(1949) Right to union acts and measures to
Organise and dominate unions;
Collective established means for
Bargaining voluntary negotiation of
terms and conditions of
employment through
1
For details see www.forestpeoples.org
Annex 1 49
collective agreements.
ILO Convention Articles 2-3 Right of tenants,

141 (1975) Rural sharecroppers and
Workers’ smallholders to organise;
Organisations freedom of association; free
from interference and
coercion.
Non- ILO Convention Articles 1-3 Equal remuneration for men

Discrimination 100 (1951) Equal and women for work of
and Equal Remuneration equal value.
Remuneration
ILO Convention Articles 1-2 Equality of opportunity and

111 (1958) treatment in respect to
Discrimination employment and
(Employment and occupation; no
Occupation) discrimination on the basis
of race, colour, sex,
religion, political opinion,
national extraction or social
origin.
Just Employment ILO Convention 97 Articles 1-9 Provision of information; no

of Migrants (1949) Migration obstacles to travel;
for Employment provision of health care;
non-discrimination in
employment,
accommodation, social
security and remuneration;
no forced repatriation of
legal migrant workers;
repatriation of savings.
ILO Convention Articles 1-12 Respect basic human rights;

143 (1975) protection of illegal
Migrant Workers migrants from abusive
(Supplementary employment; no trafficking
Provisions) in illegal migrants; fair
treatment of migrant labour.
Annex 1 50
Protection of ILO Convention Articles 5-91 Protection of members of

Plantation 110 (1958) families of recruited
Workers 2
Plantations workers; protection of
workers’ rights during
recruitment and transport;
fair employment contracts;
abolition of penal sanctions;
fair wages and conditions of
work; no coercion or
obligation to use company
stores; adequate
accommodation and
conditions; maternity
protection; compensation
for injuries and accidents;
freedom of association;
right to organise and
collective bargaining; proper
labour inspection; decent
housing and medical care.
Protection of ILO Articles 4-8 Fair rents; adequate

Tenants and Recommendation payment for crops;
Sharecroppers 132 (1968) provisions for well-being;
Tenants and voluntary organisation; fair
Sharecroppers contracts; procedures for
the settlement of disputes.
Protection of ILO Convention Article 4 Alienation with due regard

Smallholders 117 (1962) Social to customary rights;
Policy (Basic Aims assistance to form
and Standards) cooperatives; tenancy
arrangements to secure
highest possible living
standards.
Health and ILO Convention Articles 7-21 Carry out risk assessments
2
Convention 110 Article 1(1) defines a plantation as ‘an agricultural undertaking
regularly employing hired workers… concerned with the cultivation or production of
… [inter alia] palm oil….’
Annex 1 51
Safety 184 (2001) Safety and adopt preventive and

and Health in protective measures to
Agriculture ensure health and safety wrt
workplaces, machinery,
equipment, chemicals, tools
and processes; ensure
dissemination of
information, appropriate
training, supervision and
compliance; special
protections for youth and
women workers; coverage
against occupational injuries
and disease.
Control or Stockholm Articles 1-5 Prohibit and/or eliminate

Eliminate Use of Convention on production and use of
Dangerous Persistent Organic chemicals listed in Annex A
Chemicals and Pollutants (2001) (eg Aldrin, Chlordane, PCB);
Pesticides restrict production and use
of chemicals in Annex B (eg
DDT); reduce or eliminate
releases of chemicals listed
in Annex C (eg
Hexachlorobenzene).
FAO International Article 5 Curtail use of dangerous

Code of Conduct pesticides where control is
on the Distribution difficult; ensure use of
and Use of protective equipment and
Pesticides (1985, techniques; provide
Revised 2002) guidance for workers on
safety measures; provide
extension service to
smallholders and farmers;
protect workers and
bystanders; make available
full information on risks and
protections; protect
biodiversity and minimize
impacts on environment;
ensure safe disposal of
waste and equipment; make
Annex 1 52
provisions for emergency

treatment for poisoning.
Rotterdam Articles 1, 5 Curb trade in banned and

Conventions on and 6 hazardous chemicals and
Prior and Informed pesticides; develop national
Consent Procedure procedures for control of
for Certain their use and trade; list
Hazardous banned and hazardous
Chemicals and chemicals and pesticides.
Pesticides in
International Trade
(1998)
Annex 1 53

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RSPO Principles and

Criteria for Sustainable

Guidance for fulfilling the Principles and Criteria for

Principle 1: Commitment to transparency

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

Criterion 1.1 Oil palm growers and Indicators: No specific guidance.

See also criterion 6.2 relating to consultation.

Criterion 1.2 Management Indicators: For national interpretation, specific

• Health and safety plan (4.7).

Guidance for Principle 1: Commitment to transparency 3

• Plans and impact assessments relating to environmental and

• Pollution prevention plans (5.6).

• Details of complaints and grievances (6.3).

• Negotiation procedures (6.4).

• Continuous improvement plan (8.1).

Examples of commercially confidential information include

Examples of information where disclosure could result in

Guidance for Principle 1: Commitment to transparency 4

Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

Criterion 2.1 There is Indicators: For national interpretation, all

The systems used should be appropriate to the scale of the

Implementing all legal requirements is an essential baseline

Guidance for Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations 5

For small-scale producers the focus should be on the grower having

Key international laws and conventions are set out in Annex 1.

• Absence of significant land conflict, unless requirements for

Guidance for Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations 6

Where lands are encumbered by legal or customary rights, the

This criterion allows for sales and negotiated agreements to

For definition of ‘customary rights’, see definitions.

Guidance for Principle 2: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations 7

Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

Criterion 3.1 There is an Indicators: No specific guidance.

Whilst it is recognised that long-term profitability is also affected by

The business or management plan may contain:

• Attention to quality of planting materials.

• Crop projection = FFB yield trends.

• Mill extraction rates = OER trends.

• Cost of Production = cost per tonne of CPO trends.

Guidance for Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability 8

• Suggested calculation – trends in 3-year running mean over the

For smallholder management schemes the content would vary from

Growers should have a system to improve practices in line with new

This criterion is not applicable to individual smallholders.

Guidance for Principle 3: Commitment to long-term economic and financial viability 9

Principle 4: Use of appropriate best practices by growers and millers

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

Criterion 4.1 Operating Indicators: For national interpretation, national

For individual smallholders working practices will have to be

Criterion 4.2 Practices maintain Indicators: National interpretation should

Long-term fertility depends on maintaining the structure, organic

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

Smallholders should be able to demonstrate that they have an

Criterion 4.3 Practices minimise Indicators: National interpretation should refer

• Planning and implementing ground clearance to minimise

• Ensuring adequate ground cover and avoiding over-spraying of

• Using irrigation practices that are designed and implemented

Criterion Indicators and Guidance Guidance for National Interpretation

• Controlling erosion wherever needed, including terracing

• Appropriately designing and maintaining roads.

• Avoiding planting on steeply sloping land or highly erodible