From January 2017, RSPO PalmTrace will replace RSPO eTrace as the RSPO IT system. PalmTrace will allow for trade of RSPO certified volumes across all four supply chain models:
- Identity Preserved
- Segregated
- Mass Balance
- Book and Claim
How will RSPO eTrace accounts be affected?
This name change will have no impact on the current functionalities available in RSPO eTrace, with only RSPO Credit trade as an additional feature in PalmTrace.
The RSPO announced in July 2016 that RSPO’s endorsement of GreenPalm ends in December 2016. From January 2017, the Book and Claim supply chain model will be supported by the trade of RSPO Credits in RSPO PalmTrace, as shown below.
This model allows mills, crushers and independent smallholders to easily participate in the market for sustainable oil palm products. Trade of RSPO Credits allows the market to directly support growers who have changed their practices to meet the RSPO Principles and Criteria.
Who can sell what Credits in RSPO PalmTrace from January 2017?
From January 2017 onward, RSPO-certified mills will be able to sell Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) Credits while RSPO-certified palm kernel crushers will be able to sell Certified Sustainable Palm Kernel Oil (CSPKO) and Certified Sustainable Palm Kernel Expeller (CSPKE) Credits. Independent smallholders (IS) will be able to sell IS-CSPO, IS-CSPKO, and IS-CSPKE Credits in PalmTrace.
Traders, Processors, Refiners and other actors in the supply chain cannot sell Credits. In order to align Credit trading with physical supply chain models, mills will no longer be able to sell CSPKO and CSPKE Credits.
Will RSPO Credits be traded for a specific calendar year?
RSPO Credits will not be traded for a specific calendar year. Credits can be bought and sold as they become available in the market. Mills, crushers and independent smallholders can offer Credits in the market at any time during the validity of their license. Buyers can purchase Credits throughout the year.
What is the validity of an RSPO Credit purchased by the buyer?
Since RSPO Credits are not traded for a specific calendar year, they can be used to claim the use of conventional, non-sustainable palm oil products in the past or future. However, buyers have to claim the RSPO Credits that they have bought within one year.
How can I get access to sell RSPO Credits from January 2017?
As an RSPO-certified mill, palm kernel crusher or an IS group, you need to request access to sell RSPO Credits. Please download the registration form available on the RSPO PalmTrace website , fill in the required information and send it to the email address mentioned in the form. Please refer to the quick start guide for step-by-step instructions.
How can I get access to buy RSPO Credits from January 2017?
Please refer to the quick start guide that we have developed for buyers of RSPO Credits. The quick start guide has step-by-step instructions on what you need to do to start purchasing RSPO Credits from January 2017.
Stay tuned for more information
RSPO will share more updates on this transition every month and a schedule of upcoming webinars and trainings will be announced on the website shortly. For more information on this topic, buyers of Credits can contact RSPO here and sellers can write to RSPO’s Head of Certification Jan Van Driel.
