Starting 1 January 2012, a revised version of the Supply Chain Certification System (SCCS) documents will come into effect, as approved by the RSPO Executive Board (EB) at its meeting on 25 Nov 2011.
New supply chain certification exercises carried out after the effective date are expected to use and comply with these new requirements. Existing supply chain certified companies/facilities will continue their certification under the existing SCCS (2009) document until the next audit or surveillance.
The RSPO Supply Chain Certification Systems (SCCS), dated November 2009, required revision in order to be transformed into a coherent normative standard for supply chain certification and to incorporate the range of amendments that have been made to supply chain certification requirements since the document was issued. The new documents take into account lessons learnt through the practical implementation of the system as well as relevant decisions made and shared with the industry.
Spearheaded by a special workgroup established under the Trade & Traceability Standing Committee, and facilitated by a consultant, the revision process began in mid 2011 through documentation checks, discussion with relevant stakeholders and consultation with experts. The revision is aimed at establishing the minimum requirements of a consistent methodology to enable certification against the intent and requirements of the RSPO Supply Chain Standard so that all Certification Bodies (CBs) are able to operate in a consistent and controlled manner. The other objective is to produce documents that are designed to ensure long-term continuity and consistency of the delivery of certification against the requirements of the RSPO Supply Chain Standard so that claims of RSPO members relating to the production, procurement and use of RSPO certified oil palm products are accurately validated.
The following two documents are a result of the revision process:
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The RSPO Supply Chain Standard –containing the requirements for companies looking for certification and for the CB to verify compliance |
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The RSPO Supply Chain Certification Systems - containing requirements for CBs certifying against the Standard |
Important changes and improvement to the document includes:
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Enhanced flow and readability through removal of obsolete requirements |
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The lifetime of certificates will now be 5 years (previously one year) with annual surveillance |
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Description on the rules for SCCS certification of mills with incorporation of a separate module identifying mill implementing the segregated versus mass balance system |
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Procedures for registration into the RSPO IT system |
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Clarification on the rules for multisite certification |
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Elaboration on yield scheme for CPO and PK |
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Account on assessment process requirements, including rules for transfer of CB |
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Explanation on rules for making claims |
The RSPO Secretariat will manage the transition to this revised version of the SCCS documents especially in communicating it to the members and stakeholders as well as ensuring consistent interpretation and implementation by the certification bodies.
KUALA LUMPUR – 14 DECEMBER 2011
