RSPO’s EURT 6 – a quiet conference in Paris

Category: News Published: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
This year’s conference at Palais des Congrès de Paris from 25 – 26th June was attended by over 400 participants. The week looked to be rather busy with the P&C Review, the conference itself and the Amsterdam Declarations meeting following. Just a fortnight before French farmers blocked access to oil depots and refineries in protest over plans to allow Total to use imported palm oil at a biofuel plant. But it was an uneventful conference.

The conference theme called for greater inclusivity throughout the palm oil supply chain. Whilst Europe is the leading market for sustainable palm oil, it remains of hot topic of debate there. Participants addressed the following key issues:-

- meeting the EU target of 100% sustainable by 2020 (now 59%)
- addressing labour and human rights issue within the context of UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
- the jurisdictional approach
- the P&C (Principles & Criteria) review

There is increasing recognition of the role of governments and their support especially in getting small holders on board but also demand for sustainable palm oil which is levelling at 19%.

The draft restructured P&C looks very much improved and easier to use. The market does not seem to want RSPO NEXT and there was a view that with the new P&C there may not be the need for RSPO NEXT as it includes a new No Deforestation Requirement. Whilst there was a lot of reference to Shared Responsibility and welcoming it, it was done in a very broad context with no specifics yet.
 
The next conference is RT 16 and this will be held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia from 12 – 15th November 2018.

Click here for photos taken during the conference.
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