SRIB RECEIVED THE FIRST FOREST MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE IN MALAYSIA

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Rubber Industry Board (SRIB), agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry of Sabah has successfully obtained the first in Malaysia Forest Management Certification in rubber category from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry, 
stated that this achievement reflects the challenge and responsibility of environmental stewardship. The award and certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) initiated in Tuaran district mark a historic milestone for Malaysian rubber sector.

"A total of 56 participants involved in the SRIB Tuaran Rubber Settlement Scheme, which pioneered and received this certification," he said at the FSC Certificate Presentation Ceremony at the Sabah Agriculture Building Multipurpose Hall yesterday. Jeffrey, also the Deputy Chief Minister II, mentioned that SRIB is working to expand the scope of certification to other plantations in various districts
including Tenom, Keningau, and Sipitang to incorporate more smallholders into the FSC group scheme.

He noted that compliance with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) is a current global challenge. "Regulations and conditions are imposed on the marketing of products such as rubber, palm oil, cocoa, and others," he said. He emphasized that the strict recognition and certification of plantation management by FSC opens up new, broader market opportunities that are not solely dependent on existing ones. "This is an opportunity for us to expand commodity products, especially rubber from Sabah to Europe in the future," Jeffrey added.