Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Indonesia has underscored that the issuance of the New ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification scheme as outlined in Presidential Regulation No. 44 of 2020 is the government's seriousness in ensuring the legality, sustainability and transparency aspects of the oil palm industry in the country.

The Indonesian government represented by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan made the statement at the Working Group on Biomass Sustainability held by the Japanese Government on Thursday (Sep 17).

The Indonesian government emphasized several constructive new points in the New ISPO, such as the availability of an independent and nationally-accredited ISPO Certification Body, and a supply chain model that describes the flow of materials from  fresh palm fruits to final products in factories.

The model shows the traceability aspect, which means that each palm product could be traced back from upstream to downstream.

A total of seven principles, 37 criteria and 173 indicators contained in the New ISPO are expected to answer the concerns of the Japanese government, including on land legality and environmental preservation, empowerment of the local economy, and the use of underage labours.

The Indonesian government stressed that the New ISPO certification was mandatory, not only for plantation companies, but also for plasma and self-subsistent smallholders.

Thus, all of Indonesia's palm oil biomass will be certified under New ISPO.

Plasma farmers are those who participate in the government's transmigration program in 1987.

The Indonesian government opens cooperation with partner countries, including Japan in ensuring the feasibility of palm oil biomass as a raw material for making fuel to achieve the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

The Working Group was the final discussion forum before establishing the sustainable palm oil certification that will be adopted by the Japanese government in the feed in tariff scheme in April 2021.

Reporting by Indonesia Window