Indonesia is taking the lead of minimising risks to smallholders from the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation.
At the recent CPOPC meeting in Surabaya, Indonesian official and CPOPC Secretary General Rizal Affandi outlined how Indonesia is moving forward on keeping palm oil supply chains inclusive of smallholders and supportive of the country’s poverty reduction goals.
This is taking place in the seeming absence of full technical support from the European Union on EUDR implementation.
Indonesia is developing an integrated clearing house system for tracing palm oil production chains for smallholders. First announced in August, this system will utilize data from electronic cultivation registration letters (e-STDB), the plantation licensing information system (Siperibun), and the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification system.
The clearing house system will integrate data from all three sources. It aims to ensure that no small-scale farmers are left behind or excluded due to EUDR compliance requirements. This system will facilitate consumer countries in tracing the entire palm oil production chain.
For background, SIPERIBUN, or the Sistem Informasi Perizinan Perkebunan, is an online system for the database and management of plantation licensing data. This system plays a crucial role in the regulation and oversight of plantation activities, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and standards.
The Surat Tanda Daftar Budidaya (STDB) and its electronic registry (e-STDB) in Indonesia is a registration system designed for small farmers. It serves as an official document acknowledging the legality and compliance of their cultivation activities. This system is part of Indonesia’s efforts to ensure sustainable and responsible agricultural practices, particularly in sectors like palm oil production. The STDB helps in monitoring and regulating small-scale farming activities, contributing to environmental and economic sustainability.
ISPO is Indonesia’s mandatory certification system for palm oil certification, which was launched in 2011, contains 7 Principles, 28 Criteria and 15 Sub-criteria. ISPO certification applies to oil palm plantations, growers, processors entities, and integrated firms. It was updated and revised as part of Indonesia’s broad RAN-KSB palm oil sustainability framework.