# How to do FPIC

**Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is not an optional step, but a mandatory one, and for certifiers and buyers, a compliance and legal risk issue. In short, do it. Do it right. And get someone to double-check you did privately because it will definitely happen publicly at some point.**

We would be remiss not to address FPIC, but equally remiss to present ourselves as defining its requirements when there are far more authoritative sources. 

Instead, we will present some practice recommendations we adhere to, refer externally to definitive sources, and strongly recommend our [peer-nominated FPIC validation service](https://www.savimbo.com/fpic) for your jurisdiction.

#### More authoritative sources on FPIC <a href="#more-authoritative-sources-on-fpic" id="more-authoritative-sources-on-fpic"></a>

Some guides for effective FPIC we recommend include, but are not limited to:

* Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) [FPIC Guide](https://rspo.org/wp-content/uploads/RSPO-Free-Prior-and-Informed-Consent-FPIC-Guide-2022_RSPO-GUI-T08-002-V2-ENG.pdf)​
* First People's Worldwide FPIC [Due-diligence questionnaire](https://www.colorado.edu/program/fpw/sites/default/files/attached-files/fpic_due_diligence_questionnaire-2.pdf)​
* Forest People's Program [Good faith negotiation guide](https://www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2010/09/fppkeyelementsgoodfaithdec08eng.pdf)​
* Sirge Coalition [FPIC guide](https://www.sirgecoalition.org/fpic-guide)​
* Convention on Biological Diversity[ Mo’ otz Kuxtal Guidelines](https://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/8j-cbd-mootz-kuxtal-en.pdf)


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