ISPO requires smallholders to meet the following requirements to be considered for the sustainability certification of smallholders:
- Land clearing phase: Possess a document proving land clearing without the use of fire.
- Seeding phase: Possess a record on the origin of seedling that shows that they are certified seedlings.
- Planting phase, on mineral soil: Possess a record of planting conducted in line with the Technical Guideline on Best Oil Palm Cultivation (GAP).
- Planting phase, on peat soil: Possess a record of planting conducted in line with the Technical Guideline on Oil Palm Cultivation in Peat Soil.
- Plant maintenance phase: Possess a record of Fertilizing and Plant Maintenance.
- Pest control phase: Possess a Guideline for the Use of Pesticides and Technical Work Instruction for the Use of Pesticide; Possess record of the type of pest control; Possess a record of pesticide uses mentioning the type of pest/plant disease, the type, and dosage of pesticide, date and time of application and name of applicant.
- Harvesting phase: Possess a record of the time and location of harvest activities.
- Fruit Transportation phase: Possess a record of the number of Fresh Fruit Bunches transported, and the name and location of the destination mill.
- Sales and FFB Price Agreement phase: A guideline for the hand over of FFBs to the mill should be available, a document on the reception of FFBs which met the requirements and those which did not, should be available; a document on the price set by the FFB Price Setting Team, and the purchase price of FFBs by the mill should be available and a there should be document on the realization of the purchase by the mill.