PAN Asia and the Pacific issues new report criticizing the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s lack of action.

Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) has issued a new report- The RSPO Roulette: How Profits Win Over People and the Planet- criticizing the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s (RSPO) lack of efforts to end the use of paraquat, protect native customary rights and end land grabbing.

The RSPO was founded to ensure that palm oil, the most in-demand vegetable oil used in food, cosmetics, industrial and electrical machinery among others, will be produced in a manner respecting people's welfare and the environment. Alongside the release of their report, PAN AP will be presenting a petition to RSPO demanding that they take concrete action within 3 months. PAN AP's key demands are:

1.      RSPO should take prompt and decisive action on land grabbing cases by RSPO members and ensure that native customary rights are respected. RSPO should exert political will in having IOI submit a time-bound action plan acceptable to the Long Teran Kanan community.

2.      RSPO should set in place a no-paraquat policy. The people’s call to stop paraquat and end its harmful effects must be heeded. People’s health and lives are not worth the additional profit made with the use of this toxic chemical.