Natural Rubber Sustainability Devel

Natural Rubber Sustainability Development



{ Agenda Item No.3 (a) of the 9th Industry Matters Committee}


A. Background
i. During the 8th meeting of Industry Matters Committee, the Secretary-General of International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) briefed on progress under Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i) ,covering the whole value chain of natural rubber industry, including the criteria and indicators.

ii. The 8th meeting of Industry Matters Committee took the following decisions:
a. ANRPC noted with concern the evolving principles and criteria under the SNR-i. Notwithstanding this, ANRPC is of the view that it is a Business-to-
Business (B2B) proposition
b. Any regulation proposed under the initiative should conform to, and be subjected to individual country’s existing laws and regulations.
c. ANRPC shall continue to monitor the developments under the SNR-i and discuss these in the next meeting.

B. Status and Progress
i. Secretary-General attended the SNR-i Global Stakeholder Dialogue held in Singapore on 24 August 2015.
ii. The objectives of this meeting were:
 To inform NGOs working in social and environmental sectors, representatives of relevant international organizations, financial institutions and members of IRSG on the current status/progress of the SNR-I, and continue discussions on fine tuning the initiative and take it forward.
 Receive stakeholders’ feedback on the ongoing sustainability issues in the natural rubber supply chain.
iii. Summary of the meeting stakeholders gave their feedback on the following issues:
 Main sustainability challenges in the NR supply chain and how to make SNR-I more effective and inclusive
i. Expansion of rubber plantation is a potential driver for deforestation
ii. Expansion of rubber plantation may affect biodiversity
iii. Difficulties in addressing/assimilating/converging, industry,
Government and NGO expectations on sustainability
iv. Land rights and human rights violations linked to land management (land confiscation, land laws, property right etc)