Public Consultation: RSPO Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)

We are pleased to announce the commencement of the public consultation for the Draft RSPO Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) from 9 July to 7 September 2026.

The draft Guidance was developed by the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Subgroup and endorsed by the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG). Following notification to the Standards Standing Committee (SSC), the draft is now available for public consultation and field trials.

The Guidance has been developed to support the implementation of Indicator 1.3.1 of the RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) 2024, which states:

“The UoC shall identify existing and potential human rights impacts within its operations and its direct suppliers, through implementation of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). Existing and potential human rights impacts identified through the HRDD shall be addressed through an action plan developed by the UoC. The action plan shall be reviewed at least once every two years.”

The Guidance supports members in understanding and implementing Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) by providing practical guidance on the HRDD process, including key steps, methodologies, examples, templates, and reference materials.

For members that already have an existing HRDD process, the Guidance serves as a supporting reference, provided that the process is aligned with internationally recognised frameworks, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance. Members may also refer to Annex 4 of the RSPO P&C 2024, which provides examples of recognised tools, approaches, and reference frameworks that may support HRDD implementation.

We welcome comments from members and all interested stakeholders. Feedback received during the consultation will be reviewed and considered in the revision and finalisation of the Guidance. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments on the clarity, relevance, practicality, technical content, and editorial aspects of the draft.

Public Consultation Period

9 July 2026 – 7 September 2026

The public consultation will be open for 60 days, from 9 July to 7 September 2026. During this period, stakeholders are invited to review the draft Guidance and submit comments through the public commenting platform.

Public Commenting Platform:
https://rspo2026consultation.konveio.site/supplementary-documents

The consultation webpage also provides access to the draft Guidance, supporting consultation materials, webinar information, and the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The draft Guidance is available for public consultation in the following languages:

English
Bahasa Indonesia
Spanish
French

Public Consultation Webinar

As part of the public consultation for the Draft RSPO Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), we are pleased to invite members and stakeholders to attend one of two public consultation webinars on 15 July 2026.

The webinars will:

provide an overview of the draft Guidance;
explain the purpose and scope of the public consultation;
demonstrate how to use the Konveio public commenting platform; and
provide an opportunity to ask questions about the draft Guidance and the public consultation process.

Stakeholders are invited to attend either of the following sessions.

Public Consultation Webinar #1

Topic: Draft RSPO Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM (GMT+8)
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yBoIbd3qRh-d5rdzfmu0Lw

Public Consultation Webinar #2

Topic: Draft RSPO Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 8:00 9:30 PM (GMT+8)
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_njb57KYYQRaMUHImdmoQUg

HRDD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To support stakeholders during the public consultation, RSPO has prepared a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), including information on Indicator 1.3.1, the purpose of the Guidance, implementation expectations, and the public consultation process.

The FAQs can be accessed on the consultation webpage alongside the draft Guidance and supporting consultation materials.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or require clarification during the public consultation, please contact the RSPO Human Rights and Social Standards Unit at [email protected].