InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – As the main palm oil producer in the world, Indonesia faces big challenges by the publication of European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Though some worry about that smallholders would be difficult to qualify the terms and conditions in EUDR, some stakeholders including Head of Serikat Petani Kelapa Sawit (SPKS) Sabarudin believed that the government and other supports for smallholders would confirm the adjustment in the regulation.
He emphasized that the qualification of term and condition in EUDR can be integrate with what the Government of Indonesia has done. Records and map, publication of palm oil legal and areas, the implementation of sustainable palm oil action plan, the implementation of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) are the concrete things to support smallholders’ plantation governance in Indonesia.
Sabarudin thought there is no reason for other parties about what smallholders are capable of to qualify the term and condition in EUDR. In the report of EUDR impact assessment, European Commission claimed that the companies’ obedience costs to EUDR would be in charge by the operators in the supply chain or eventually the costs would be burdened to the final consumers in European countries, not the smallholders.
He also mentioned that EUDR required the investment and smallholders’ capacity development as the things to get risk mitigation. That is why the supports from the companies and government could be the solution for the government to qualify the term and condition in EUDR.
Achmad Surambo, Executive Director of Sawit Watch mentioned that it needs the real supports from the Government of Indonesia and European Union. The issues, such as, area legal, minimal partnership, and escalating smallholders’ capacity should get solution by having collaborative actions. He also told Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) should play its roles about sustainable certificate as the potential contributor to confirm that the smallholders obey EUDR.
He told the Government of Indonesia and European Union should commit not to deliver supports only for the smallholders but also solve what they are facing, such as, area legal, escalating their capacity. RSPO through its sustainable certificates could be the model for smallholders to obey the mechanisms in EUDR.
The companies in Indonesia, especially the main palm oil producers need to understand that the obedience in more transparent governance is not regulation only. The implementation of EUDR should be the chance to commit in responsible business practices for the environment and social. The awareness of sustainability is the main key to maintain the good reputation from Indonesia in the globe. (T2)
