KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Only 25.5 per cent of the 250,000 independent oil palm smallholders have obtained the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said.
Its deputy director-general of services, Dr Ramle Moslim called on over 150,000 independent oil palm smallholders nationwide who have yet to register for the certification to do so.
He said the MSPO certificate was very important as it would enable them to meet the conditions on the commodity stipulated by developed countries, especially in Europe.
“When they are not registered and do not have the MSPO certification, most likely they will not be able to renew their licence, besides the possibility of getting low prices for their oil palm fruits,” he told reporters after meeting editors over lunch here today.
Ramle said only a handful of oil palm smallholders were still not aware of the MSPO certification even though various awareness campaigns had been since the last few years.
“We understand that some of them are facing logistical problems to apply for the certification. But they only need to register for the MSPO and the MPOB will help them in terms of training, equipment and so on, with all the costs borne by the government until they get the certificate,” he said.
Meanwhile, MPOB director-general Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the MSPO certification was made mandatory for smallholders since July 1, 2020 and the agency would start issuing compounds to those who did not have the certificate from July 1, 2021.
“On Jan 1, 2022, we will start taking action to the extent of withdrawing their licence. When the licence is revoked and cannot be renewed, they can no longer sell oil palm fruit.
“So we ask them to come forward and we will help them to get the MSPO certificate,’ he said.
— Bernama
