RSPO certification process

Kickstart your certification journey by completing our service request form or reaching out to us directly. Our experts will navigate you through the certification scope that aligns best with your company setup and needs. The process outlined below covers RSPO Supply Chain, RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) and RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) certifications.

Step 1: Application process 
Begin by signing the certification agreement with Preferred by Nature and becoming a member of RSPO. Preferred by Nature will appoint a staff as your contact person. 

Step 2: Certification preparation
Prepare by complying with certification requirements. This involves assigning responsibilities within your organisation, developing chain of custody procedures, and providing staff training. 

Step 3: Assessments
RSPO audits are conducted on-site. Audit duration varies based on your operation’s scope, complexity and sites. Activities include interviews, document reviews, plantation visits, facility observations, and volume accounting system checks.

Step 4: Audit report
Our knowledgeable RSPO SCC auditors will prepare an audit report which is peer-reviewed by competent professionals within Preferred by Nature, who will take the certification decision.  

Step 5: Earning certificate
Upon certification approval, we will submit the audit report and draft certificate to RSPO for approval. Following RSPO’s approval, you will receive your certificate and your annual licence will be activated in the RSPO database: PalmTrace.

RSPO certificates remain valid for five years, provided you successfully pass annual audits and adhere to all relevant RSPO requirements within the annual license timeframe. Upon the certificate’s expiration, a re-assessment is necessary for renewal. 

Complaints and resolutions

If a complaint is raised about our certification services or one of our clients, we handle this in accordance with our Dispute Resolution Policy. We may call on our Impartiality Committee if Preferred by Nature’s impartiality is under question.

RSPO Supply Chain Certification

Below are some of the key choices available regarding the scope of an RSPO supply chain certificate. Don’t worry if this feels overwhelming for you - our team can help you identify the type and scope of certification that best matches your needs.

• Supply chain model: You need to choose among three distinct supply chain models used for RSPO supply chain certification: Identity Preserved, Segregation or Mass Balance. This is closely linked to your company set-up, including whether you will need to mix certified with non-certified material or not. You may need to select more than one system, depending on the complexity of your production and trade.
   
• Book and Claim: The fourth supply chain model, not for producers, is the Book and Claim model. No certification is required for this model, but users need to show that they are compliant with the rules of the RSPO book and claim system. In addition, the claims they make need to be in accordance with the published RSPO rules on market communications and claims.

If your organisation manages facilities in two or more sites, you may be eligible for multi-site certification which will reduce the total cost of certification.

• Single: This is an entity that administers only one site. The CoC certificate is for one entity.
   
• Multi-site: This is a certification option for a group of sites that have a contractual link, a defined Central Office and a minimum of two participating sites. 
   
• Group: Supply chain group certification offers an option for RSPO supply chain certification whereby the direct costs are shared between the eligible members of a group.

RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) Certification

The RSPO standard sets out general requirements for sustainable palm oil production practices. However, specific criteria within the RSPO P&C standard may vary depending on the activities carried out at each site. For example, certain criteria like long-term economic and financial management plans may not apply to smallholders who supply palm oil mills.

National Interpretations and Normative Documents

RSPO P&C National Interpretation and RSPO ISH National Interpretation are used when endorsed by RSPO. In cases where these interpretations are not endorsed, the latest RSPO P&C version is used for audits.

Depending on the scope of the audit and the specific activities involved, other normative documents may also apply. These documents include the RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard (relevant for milling operations), the new planting procedure (NPP), and group certification.

The RSPO standards capture relevant, impactful and implementable requirements which are collectively discussed and agreed upon by the seven categories of its multi-stakeholder membership base.

RSPO standards provide the aims, objectives and mandatory requirements for the production and procurement of RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).

The RSPO standard must be revised every five years. The review process includes at least one round of public consultation of at least 60 days. The RSPO Standards and supporting documents are developed through a comprehensive, consensus-driven, and transparent process, which includes feedback from the general public and contributions from interested stakeholders through a public consultation.

Access the current standards here:

• 2020 RSPO Supply Chain Certification Standard
• 2019 Independent Smallholder Standard 
• 2018 Principles and Criteria