GA23 Resolution and the Proposed Membership Fee Structure Changes – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)

This FAQ is issued in conjunction with the announcement of the GA23 Resolution and the Proposed Membership Fee Structure Changes.

RSPO is proposing the first update to its Membership Fee structure since 2004. The proposal will be put to Members for approval at the 23rd General Assembly (GA23) on 4 November 2026. If approved, the revised Membership Fees will take effect from 1 January 2027. 

This FAQ explains what is changing to the Membership Fee structure, why the changes are being proposed, and what they mean for your organisation.

The Membership Fee revision forms part of a consolidated and balanced funding package, together with the applicable Trade Fee adjustments. Its objective is to ensure the operational sustainability of RSPO while preserving broad, effective and inclusive participation within its multi-stakeholder model. 

Although the recent Trade Fee changes are separate from the proposed Membership Fee Structure, it plays a complimentary part in the broader funding package proposed by the Board. Subject to approval of the proposed Membership Fee at GA23, RSPO will commit 10% of annual Trade Fee revenue to Stakeholder Inclusion and Impact Activities. This will provide more reliable, recurring funding to  enhance support for smallholders, NGOs and other essential stakeholders rather than relying on historical reserves and annual surpluses in the current funding model.

Important note: The Trade Fee changes  have already been approved by the Board of Governors (BoG) and will take effect on 1 October 2026. The trade fee details can be found in this announcement. 

At GA23, RSPO Members will be asked to vote on the proposed Membership Fee changes only.

About the Change

1. Why is RSPO changing its Membership Fee structure?

The current Membership Fee structure has not been reviewed or adjusted for inflation since 2004. 

Over the past 22 years, RSPO’s scope has grown substantially, where traceability and technology requirements, certification and assurance activity, regulatory obligations and member-support services have all expanded, along with the in-house expertise and systems needed to deliver them.

The revised structure is designed to make contributions more proportionate to each membership category’s role and relationship with the RSPO system, so that RSPO can remain operationally  sustainable while keeping participation open and inclusive. As a result, fees for some categories will increase, while fees for others will stay the same or decrease.

2. Why are the Membership Fee and Trade Fee changes being considered together?

The two fees serve different purposes but are complementary parts of RSPO’s funding model.

Membership fees provide the baseline funding for RSPO’s core operations while Trade Fees scale with market activity. Considering them together produces a more resilient funding model than relying disproportionately on either source alone.

3. Has the membership fee change been approved?

Not yet. Under Articles 16(a) and 16(c) of the RSPO Statutes, any change to the Membership Fee structure requires approval by the General Assembly. The Board of Governors has proposed the revised fee structure, and it will be put to Members as a resolution at GA23. 

If approved, the Secretariat will amend Articles 5(c) and 5(d) of the Statutes accordingly, and the revised fees would take effect from 1 January 2027.

What This Means for Your Membership

4. What are the proposed fees?

The table below compares current annual Membership Fees with the fees proposed to take effect on 1 January 2027, if the resolution is approved at GA23.

5. Does every member need to pay more?

No, the proposed fee varies by category. Each was reviewed individually based on its circumstances, and relationship with the RSPO system. Under the proposal:

• Fees for growers with mills are maintained
• Fees for growers without mills are reduced
• Fees for the Smallholder Group Manager category are reduced (from a tiered range to a flat rate)
• Fees for NGOs are reduced
• The Affiliate fee is maintained
• The Jurisdictional and Honorary Members continue to pay no fee
• Fees increase for processors/traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks/investors, and Supply Chain Associates

6. Why are growers’ Membership Fees being maintained or reduced?

RSPO recognises the significant costs growers already incur through certification, compliance and other sustainability requirements. Maintaining or reducing these fees avoids adding further barriers to participation, particularly for smaller growers. 

For growers with mills, the fee stays at €2,000 per year. For growers without mills, the fee is reduced from €2,000 to €1,000 per year, reflecting that these growers sell raw Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) to mills and do not operate mills or process FFB into palm oil products themselves. 

For Small Growers (under 500 hectares), the fee is reduced from €500 to €250 per year, reflecting their limited scale and capacity to contribute relative to larger growers.

The Smallholder Group Manager category is also simplified. Currently tiered from €250 up to €2,000 depending on group size, it moves to a single flat €250 – a substantial reduction for larger smallholder groups, and an accessibility improvement for group-based smallholder participation.

7. Why are fees increasing for processors/traders, CGMs, retailers and banks/investors?

These membership categories represent an important part of the RSPO community and supply chain, with membership fees that have remained unchanged for many years. The proposed adjustment from €2,000 to €3,500 is intended to bring their contribution more closely with their role and level of engagement within the RSPO system, and to support the continued strengthening and delivery of RSPO’s services.

8. Why are two different Membership Fee levels proposed for NGOs, and has the way eligibility is measured changed?

NGOs play an important role in RSPO’s multi-stakeholder governance and credibility. The table above (see Q4) lists NGO membership under two categories, which are Environmental/Nature Conservation and Social/Development, but both follow the same fee structure, so the change described here applies equally to each.

The proposal recognises that many NGOs operate with limited financial resources and hence, introduces a two-tier fee structure based on annual revenue:

• €250 per year for NGOs with annual revenue above US$500,000
• €100 per year for NGOs with annual revenue of US$500,000 or less

This replaces the current structure, which is tiered by annual operating budget in Euro across four bands up to €150 million. Each NGO is responsible for providing documentation of its annual revenue to substantiate eligibility for the lower fee tier; if evidence is not provided, the higher fee applies by default. The Secretariat will issue detailed submission instructions ahead of the 2027 implementation.

9. Why is the Supply Chain Associate fee increasing from €100 to €250?

The change from €100 to €250 is intended to better reflect the level of Secretariat support required for certification, licensing, and administration activities in this category.

The billing arrangement is also being simplified: Supply Chain Associates will be billed once every two years, at €500 for the two-year period, rather than annually.

10. How does this affect Affiliate, Jurisdictional, or Honorary Members? 

These arrangements are unchanged. Affiliate Members continue to pay €250 per year; Jurisdictional Members and Honorary Members continue to hold membership with no membership fee.

Timing and What You Need to Do

11. When would the revised fees take effect?

If this proposal is approved at GA23, the revised Membership Fee structure would take effect on 1 January 2027. It would apply to Membership Fees that become due on or after that date, including renewal fees.

Fees that became due before 1 January 2027 remain subject to the fee structure that applied at the time they became due.

12. Will this affect fees I have already been invoiced, or my current membership period?

No. The revised fees would apply only to membership periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027. There is no retroactive effect on invoices already issued or on membership periods already underway.

13. Do I need to do anything now?

No action is required from Members at this stage. If the resolution is approved at GA23, the RSPO Secretariat will incorporate the revised fee structure into the membership renewal process from the effective date, and will communicate directly with Members ahead of any change to what they are billed.

Your next renewal will simply reflect whichever fee structure applies on the date it falls due.

Where Your Fee Goes

14. What does my Membership Fee fund?

Your membership fee helps RSPO maintain and grow a credible, effective system for sustainable palm oil. This includes:

• Supporting members 
  RSPO provides dedicated member services, communications, regional engagement and guidance to help members participate effectively in the RSPO system.

• Maintaining credible standards and assurance
  RSPO develops and continuously improves the RSPO Standards, certification, assurance and grievance systems to maintain the credibility and integrity of the system.

• Strengthening the sustainable palm oil market
  RSPO supports market development and initiatives that help increase demand for certified sustainable palm oil.

• Maintaining effective governance
  RSPO supports the Board of Governors, Standing Committees, Working Groups and General Assembly to provide oversight and stakeholder representation.

• Running the organisation responsibly
  RSPO maintains the people, legal, financial, technology and operational infrastructure needed to deliver RSPO’s mission effectively.

• Delivering RSPO’s strategy
  RSPO implements its strategic priorities and the long-term operational plan to advance its mission and objectives.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the proposed Membership Fee structure that are not answered here, please reach out to the RSPO Secretariat:

• RSPO Membership Team
  • [email protected]