The process of obtaining RSPO SCCS certification can be divided into several stages. In this article, I will try to explain the process in detail to help companies navigate its complexities. I have also prepared a checklist that can be downloaded HERE. It will help you prepare your company for the first stages of certification.
Only RSPO members can apply for the RSPO SCCS certificate, so this is the first step towards obtaining it.
There are three types of RSPO membership.
When registering a company as an RSPO member, you must choose one of the categories listed above. The AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP category is for companies that are not directly involved in palm oil, meaning that they do not buy, produce or sell products containing palm oil or its derivatives. In short, they are not part of the RSPO supply chain. These companies include Certification Bodies and non-profit organizations.
In the case of membership at the ASSOCIATE or ORDINARY level, the mass of the purchased palm oil and its derivatives is important, so the first thing you should do is write down the amount of palm oil or its derivatives purchased by the company.
You can apply for RSPO membership HERE.
The application will be reviewed by the RSPO, which will issue a decision and assign a membership number that will look something like this: 4-0453-14-000-00. The entire process will take about 6 weeks.
Any company licensed to sell an RSPO certified product must register on the PalmTrace platform.
Register on the platform HERE. If your company is not a crushing plant, crusher or refiner and you are not a trader of crude palm oil, you do not have to register your palm oil transactions after registering on the platform.
PalmTrace is an online system that provides the ability to track the production and trade of RSPO certified palm oil worldwide. PalmTrace is the platform on which all palm oil transactions (up to the refinery stage) must be recorded.
What does that mean exactly?
The scope of certification is primarily the supply chain model in which we want to sell palm oil. We distinguish three models
IP – Full traceability from the final product to the specific pressing plant.
Requirement:
Requires complete isolation of palm oil-using materials from a given mill at every stage of processing and transportation.
SG – Palm oil contained in the certified finished product comes only from (several) mills at the IP level.
100% segregation at every stage of processing, refining and production throughout the supply chain. Mixing of any products containing RSPO certified palm oil is possible.
MB– Certified palm oil is mixed with uncertified palm oil throughout the supply chain.
Maintaining a mass balance. The amount of CPO and PKO contained in purchased raw materials cannot be less than the amount of CPO and PKO contained in sold finished products.
The scope of the certificate consists of the number of company locations.
If a company conducts its palm oil business in one place, one location, we can talk about: Single Site
In case there are more locations it is of course: Multi Site
After defining the scope of the certificate, the company must be prepared to implement the requirements of the RSPO SCCS standard. You can download the document HERE.
Below is a list of procedures that should be created or aspects of which should be included in existing company procedures.
Internal audits (5.3.2)
Shopping (5.4)
Dealing with non-conforming purchases (5.4.4)
Subcontractors (5.5)
Sales (5.6)
Palm Trace transaction registration (5.7)
Training (5.8)
Record keeping (5.9)
Conversion calculator (5.10)
Applying Trademark (5.11)
Complaints (5.12)
Management Review (5.13)
The certification audit may be carried out by an RSPO-accredited certification body.
Author: Mariola Fabisiak, Certification Specialist
Write: biuro@onepeterson.pl Call: 722 005 933
