Ministry to launch MSPO's Strategic Action Plan 2024-2026

 

The Plantation and Commodities Ministry will launch the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Strategy Action Plan 2024-2026 soon.

Its deputy strategic planning and management secretary-general Abdul Hadi Omar said this will be based on three main strategies; building a robust and reliable sustainability certification scheme, ensuring the compliance of industry players and adding value to the MSPO certification scheme, and expanding the recognition and acceptance of MSPO.

"I hope MSPO can continue to lead this industry and the government will always cooperate so that we can raise the image of the country's palm oil industry to higher levels on the international stage,” he said at the MSPO 10th anniversary event at DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

MSPO was formerly the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC). It is the national certification scheme for oil palm plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm oil processing facilities.

Focus on three issues

Meanwhile, Hadi said the MSPO must focus its attention on three issues.

First, he said, MSPO must be dynamic in a world of shifting priorities. The government will continuously improve the certification scheme to remain relevant.

The MSPO 2.0 standard is an initiative for the certification’s credibility by taking into account high conservation value, social impact assessments and the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions while addressing issues of forced labour and child labour, he added.

Secondly, effective engagement sessions must be held with stakeholders, such as policymakers, consumer associations, non-governmental organisations and entrepreneurs to raise awareness of the country’s initiatives and commitments.

Finally, all MSPO-certified palm oil products must display the scheme’s logo regardless of whether they are sold locally or internationally.

On the MSPO rebranding, Hadi said it was a marketing strategy to empower the scheme at the domestic and international levels.

"Hopefully, MSPO will continue to excel and help sow loyalty to the economy and the progress of the country's palm oil industry,” he said. - Mkini