Public consultation on the RSPO Independent Appeals Mechanism within the RSPO Complaints System

Over the past seven years, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has developed a Complaints System.  However, the Complaints System itself has been the subject of many concerns and critiques.  In November 2013, the RSPO 10th General Assembly adopted Resolution 6f, entitled “Guaranteeing Fairness, Transparency and Impartiality in the RSPO Complaints System”. 

A review of the Complaints System was undertaken by Natural Justice and Borneo Conservancy Initiative and completed in December 2014. The final report is available for public viewing since 5 January 2015 on the RSPO website.  One of the key recommendations of the Complaints System Review is the development of an Independent Appeals Mechanism (IAM) within the RSPO Complaints System to replace the RSPO Board of Governors as the final arbitrators of any appeal from the decisions of the Complaints Panel.  The aim is to reduce the conflict of interest that may exist in the current RSPO Complaints System. 

Accreditation Services International (ASI) was appointed as the consultant to develop an independent appeals mechanism through facilitating an inclusive process of stakeholder consultation and engagement to identify and adopt clear terms and procedures that would best suit RSPO. 

We cordially invite you to attend the Public Consultation on the Independent Appeals Mechanism to review the draft procedures (which will be available by late August 2015) and to share your organizations’ approach and practical experience with regards to integrated approaches to appeals.

The Public Consultation will be held on:

Date: 8 September 2015 (Tuesday)

Venue: Corrus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The objectives of this Public Consultation are as follows:

The main objective of this public consultation is to:

• To present the preliminary overview of the RSPO Independent Appeals Mechanism.
• Invite stakeholders to share their approach, practical experience and best practices with regards to dealing with appeals connected to complaints system.
• As a forum, to discuss the RSPO Independent Appeals Mechanism leading to the implementation of an efficient appeals mechanism.

We are pleased to inform you that there will be no participation fee for this event but each organization is limited to 1(one) participant only.  Participants are requested to confirm their attendance to [email protected] by Friday, 28 August 2015.