Following on the heels of the historic 16th Annual Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, SCS Global Services (SCS) has become the first certification body in North America accredited to conduct assessments under the stringent new RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C) Standard. This accreditation sets the stage for SCS to certify sustainable palm plantations and mills internationally.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in food production, found in nearly half of all packaged food items on store shelves. The 2018 P&C Standard, which earned the overwhelming support of international delegates, incorporates important new safeguards for palm oil production aimed at halting deforestation, protecting endangered wildlife and peatlands, strengthening human rights, and protecting workers.
SCS’ accreditation was conducted by Accreditation Services International (ASI), including a review of its audit performed in Guatemala in May 2018 with Nacional Agro Industrial S.A. (NAISA). The audit scope included around 9,000 hectares of agricultural operations as well as the palm oil mill, utilizing the Identity Preserved Supply Chain Model. “We are proud to work towards RSPO certification, as we strive for sustainable development with transparent processes and raw materials produced for food product manufacturers in an environmentally and socially responsible way,” said Romeo Estuardo Gramajo Leal, NAISA Director of Certifications. “SCS conducted a very thorough audit, guided by the RSPO Principles & Criteria. The auditing team was highly objective and professional.
Matthew Rudolf, SCS’ RSPO Program Manager, said, “SCS looks forward to continuing to build our presence globally, especially in the Latin American, West Africa, and Asian regions. With SCS RSPO auditors strategically located in all three regions, we are dedicated to encouraging palm growers and smallholders to get RSPO certified to demonstrate sustainable palm production across the globe.”
