KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The European Union (EU) has officially acknowledged the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification as a credible sustainability standard with a high-standard digital traceability system that can facilitate operators' compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the acknowledgement affirms Malaysia’s leadership in sustainable palm oil, as the MSPO provides assurance on legality, cut-off date compliance, and digital traceability, while ensuring more than half a million smallholders are fully part of the sustainability agenda.
"The EU’s acknowledgement also underscores MSPO’s credibility as a trusted and future-ready standard.
"It assures global buyers that Malaysian palm oil is legally sourced, traceable, and sustainable, anchored in the livelihoods of smallholders and backed by a mandatory national framework," he said in a statement.
This acknowledgement was formalised in the EU-Malaysia joint statement entitled “EU and Malaysia Agree to Strengthen Their Partnership and Continue Their Joint Efforts Against Deforestation,” issued following the visit of European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, to Malaysia on Aug 5, 2025.
The MSPO certification, audited by independent third-party bodies, is a mandatory standard covering the entire palm oil value chain, from smallholders and growers to mills, dealers, and processors.
As global sustainability requirements intensify, the certification offers a durable and scalable framework for responsible sourcing. By embedding legality, a strict no-deforestation cut-off date, and advanced traceability, MSPO supports operators’ compliance with the EUDR and strengthens Malaysia’s position as a trusted partner in sustainable global trade, MSPO said.
It also ensures legality, transparency, inclusivity and accountability at every stage, aligning production with international market requirements and guaranteeing integrity and credibility.
"Anchored by a strict cut-off date of Dec 31, 2019, prohibiting deforestation for certification, the MSPO gives buyers and regulators confidence that certified palm oil is legally sourced and deforestation-free.
"With its high-standard digital traceability system, MSPO enables full supply chain visibility and strengthens trust among global stakeholders," it added.
The MSPO is a government-supported body established to implement and oversee the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Scheme.
-- BERNAMA
