RSPO response to Member allegations in Guatemala and Honduras

Update 3 February 2025

RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) certificates held by NaturAceites S.A., for two (2) units of certification, covering Fray Bartolomé mill and a multi-mill certificate for Panaxte and Panacte mills, are withdrawn following failure to address non-conformities found in audits conducted by Control Union between 22 July 2024 and 2 August 2024.

The RSPO Certification process is one of several systems in place to ensure that RSPO Certified members abide by the Standards. To ensure the credibility of the RSPO Standards, independent and third-party auditors play a key role in certification. The allocation or retraction of RSPO Certifications is decided by an independent Certification Body (CB). The CBs that offer RSPO Certification services are, in turn, accredited by an independent Assurance Body Assurance Services International (ASI). This system of independent checks and balances is developed to ensure the certification process remains fair and impartial. 

In early 2024, RSPO was made aware of the report “In the shadow of the oil palm”, produced by the Christian Initiative Romero (CIR) and the grievances published by Foodwatch and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) which implicated several RSPO Members, including NaturAceites, a certified grower member. 

At the request of the RSPO Secretariat, ASI conducted a comprehensive review of the 2023 RSPO audit reports referenced in the NGO report, identifying key areas of concern. In response, ASI witnessed the subsequent audits conducted by Control Union, the Certification Body for NaturAceites. These audits at sites Fray Bartolomé mill and Panaxte and Panacte mills were conducted between 22 July 2024 and 2 August 2024. Following the audits, Control Union suspended both RSPO P&C certificates due to identified non-conformities.

When an RSPO P&C certificate is suspended, the RSPO Member has six months from the last date of audit to address the non-conformities. Subject to the CB procedure, they may decide on the appropriate measure to verify the non-conformity implementation by the member (e.g. desk review, on-site verification). Due to the failure of the RSPO Member to demonstrate satisfactory measures to address the non-conformities the RSPO P&C certificate for the Fray Bartolomé mill and the RSPO P&C multi-site certificate for Panaxte and Panacte mills – have been terminated as of 27 January 2025 and 30 January 2025 respectively by the CB. 

NaturAceites will be required to undergo a full recertification process should they wish to obtain certification for those units of certification at a later date.

NaturAceites holds three RSPO supply chain certificates, these remain active. NaturAceites may still receive, process, and trade RSPO Certified material that has been sourced from other RSPO Certified suppliers.