InfoSAWIT, ACEH TAMIANG – Hundreds of hectares of palm oil plantations in Aceh Tamiang Regency, managed by nine private companies, have reportedly not obtained the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. This was revealed in a letter from the Directorate General of Plantations of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, numbered B-491/KB/.410/E/06/2024, dated June 12, 2024.
The ISPO certification is mandatory for plantation companies in accordance with the Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) No. 11 of 2015, reinforced by Presidential Regulation No. 44 of 2020 and Permentan No. 38 of 2020. Companies that fail to meet this obligation risk facing sanctions, including written warnings, temporary suspensions, or revocation of business licenses.
According to the Plantation Licensing Information System (Siperibun), the nine companies in Aceh Tamiang that have yet to obtain ISPO certification include PT Desa Jaya, PT Dharma Agung, PT Mestika Prima Lestari Indah (MPLI), PT Semadam, PT Sinar Kaloy Perkasaindo, PT Sisirau, PT Tanjung Raya Bendahara, PT Teungulon Raya, and PT Perkebunan dan Pertanian Sumber Asih.
The Acting Head of the Agriculture, Plantation, and Livestock Office of Aceh Tamiang, Yunus, SP, has not responded to inquiries regarding this issue despite being contacted by reporters.
Azanuddin Kurnia, Secretary of the Aceh Agriculture and Plantation Office, explained that ISPO certification has been mandatory for companies since 2020, while the deadline for smallholder farmers is set for 2025. "Without ISPO certification, fresh fruit bunches (TBS) and crude palm oil (CPO) will struggle to compete in international markets," Azanuddin stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from KabarTamiang.
Azanuddin also revealed that out of a total of 263,000 hectares of smallholder palm oil plantations in Aceh, only 2,000 hectares have been certified ISPO. This figure represents approximately 0.75 percent and is entirely located in Aceh Tamiang. This situation could impact around 800,000 people who depend on the palm oil industry in Aceh if not addressed promptly.
According to Azanuddin, the low certification rate poses a significant challenge for the government. ISPO certification not only requires compliance with legal aspects but also encompasses environmental management, plantation management, and social responsibility. If companies and farmers do not obtain certification soon, the repercussions will extend to the local economy, particularly in the marketing of palm oil products. (T2)
