Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO)
Mandatory sustainable palm oil certification for plantation companies, palm oil mills and smallholders, audited by PT TSI Sertifikasi Internasional against the ISPO Principles and Criteria.
About This Service
Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) is the national certification system that ensures palm oil in Indonesia is produced in a way that is legal, environmentally responsible, socially acceptable and economically viable. Unlike voluntary schemes, ISPO certification is mandatory for palm oil businesses under government regulation, with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 44 of 2020 establishing the Indonesian sustainable palm oil certification system.
To be certified, a business must demonstrate that it meets the ISPO Principles and Criteria. These cover compliance with laws and regulations, including land and business permits; good plantation and processing practices; management of the environment, natural resources and biodiversity; employment responsibilities; social responsibility and community economic empowerment; transparency; and sustainable business improvement. TSI applies the ISPO certification scope set out in Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) No. 33 of 2025.
In the palm oil plantation sector, the ISPO scope covers three sub-sectors: palm oil cultivation, processing of palm oil plantation products, and integrated cultivation and processing. Certification applies to both plantation companies and smallholders (pekebun), with surveillance arrangements adapted to each.
An ISPO certificate issued by TSI is valid for five years from the date of issue, with surveillance every year during the certification cycle. Certified businesses may use the ISPO logo in line with the logo guideline, giving buyers and stakeholders verifiable evidence of sustainable palm oil production.
Benefits of ISPO Certification
- Regulatory compliance. Fulfil the mandatory ISPO obligation for palm oil businesses and reduce legal and permit-related risks.
- Environmental sustainability. Apply practices that reduce the environmental impact of plantations and mills while protecting natural resources and biodiversity.
- Market access and buyer confidence. Give buyers, refineries and financiers verifiable evidence that your palm oil is produced sustainably.
- Operational efficiency. Good plantation and processing practices help you manage resources, productivity and operating costs more effectively.
- Stronger reputation. Show communities, workers and other stakeholders your commitment to responsible business practices.
Who Needs ISPO Certification?
- Palm oil plantation companies (cultivation)
- Palm oil mills processing fresh fruit bunches
- Integrated plantation and mill operations
- Palm oil smallholders (pekebun)
- Certified businesses preparing for recertification
ISPO Certification Stages with TSI
The stages below summarize TSI’s ISPO public information. The full documents are available on the ISPO Certification Process page.
Application Form and Agreement
Complete the ISPO application form. TSI reviews your application against the ISPO scope, and both parties sign the ISPO certification agreement.
Stage 1 Audit
TSI assesses how you fulfil the ISPO document requirements. Any nonconformities must be corrected within the period set by the regulation before the process continues.
Stage 2 Audit
A field audit verifies that the ISPO Principles and Criteria are applied in the plantation and/or mill. You report corrective actions to TSI together with supporting evidence.
Decision and ISPO Certificate
Following the recommendation of TSI’s reviewer team and ISPO decision maker, the ISPO certificate is issued. It is valid for five years from the date of issue.
Annual Surveillance
TSI carries out surveillance every year during the certification cycle to confirm continued compliance. Smallholders follow the surveillance schedule set for pekebun.
Recertification
Recertification is carried out no later than 12 months before the ISPO certificate expires, starting again from the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification is Indonesia’s national certification system confirming that a palm oil business meets the ISPO Principles and Criteria, covering legality, good practices, environmental management, employment, social responsibility and transparency. Certificates are issued by ISPO certification bodies such as TSI after a Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit.
Yes. ISPO is mandatory for palm oil plantation businesses in Indonesia under government regulation, including Presidential Regulation No. 44 of 2020. The obligation covers plantation companies, palm oil mills and smallholders (pekebun).
It depends on the size and condition of your operations and how complete your legality documents and field records are. Corrective actions after the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits must be completed within the time limits set by the regulation, so preparing your documents early helps the process run smoothly. TSI will explain the audit plan and schedule when preparing your agreement.
An ISPO certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue. During that period TSI carries out surveillance every year, and recertification is carried out no later than 12 months before the certificate expires.
Prepare your legality documents (such as plantation business permits and land rights), environmental documents, standard operating procedures and records for plantation and/or mill activities, employment and occupational health and safety records, and records of community and social programmes. To start, contact TSI through our Contact Us page and our team will guide you through the ISPO application form.