Carry Over Credits for Certified Independent Smallholders Group

Date: 1 July 2025

Dear RSPO Independent Smallholders (ISH) group managers,

As part of the RSPO’s continuous support for certified Independent Smallholders (ISH), the RSPO Board of Governors has carefully deliberated and endorsed a mechanism to enable RSPO certified ISH groups to utilise unsold Independent Smallholder Credits (IS-Credits) that have been allocated to the Certified Volume in the previous license year. We are pleased to announce that this mechanism – Carry Over Credits – is now available for ISH groups to use, if necessary.

What are Carry Over Credits?
Carry Over Credits allow the transfer of any unsold RSPO IS-Credits allocated based on actual Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) production in the previous license period to the next one. This mechanism aims  to support ISH groups  meet their overall certification goals while improving livelihoods.

Who is eligible?
This mechanism  applies to all certified ISH groups with unsold credits whose prisma license expired between 01/05/2025 onwards.

How to utilise Carry Over Credits:
Further details on how to utilise these unsold credits, including the process and relevant forms, will be announced in due course with comprehensive guidance to ensure smooth implementation.

Addressing market concerns

Carry Over Credits allow any unsold RSPO IS-Credits that expire at the end of the licence period to be carried over to the next licence period, so those credits remain available for sale. Together with introducing Carry Over Credits, RSPO is also strengthening member engagement to improve the market for IS-Credits and to recognise the hard work smallholders have taken to achieve certification. 

This new mechanism reinforces RSPO’s ongoing efforts to enhance the benefits of ISH certification while recognising the key role that ISH groups play in driving sustainable and responsible palm oil production.

For any immediate questions, please contact RSPO Smallholder and/or Certification Helpdesk

Thank you for your continued dedication to sustainable practices.

Sincerely,

The RSPO Secretariat Team

Stay tuned for more information and detailed guidelines on utilising RSPO’s Carry Over Credits mechanism.