KUCHING, Feb 9: Malaysia hopes to formulate and implement effective and aggressive action plans to increase awareness on the benefits of palm oil through cooperation with Indonesia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Minister of Agriculture and Commodities, said such plans included dispelling misinformation about the products, to ensure both country voices are heard by the international community.
“I want to call on the audience here, the palm oil players for Malaysia and Indonesia, to unite and fight against the unfair treatment the industry is facing.
“I urge everyone to work together and strengthen our cooperation, especially through the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries to address our concerns.
“We have to ensure palm oil are treated equally as any other vegetable oil in the market, while at the same time, pushing for transparent and fair reporting on all the sustainability efforts undertaken by the industry players and stakeholders,” he said during the Engagement and Luncheon Session With Palm Oil Industries in Jakarta today following his three-day working visit to Indonesia.
Fadillah said in November 2021, the European Union introduced the European Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) as part of the EU Green Deal, to limit deforestation caused by the consumption of agricultural commodities and products from around the world.
He also said he regulation lists palm oil as one of the commodities that drive deforestation and forest degradation through the expansion of agricultural land.
“There has to be a way for palm oil to be acknowledged for its sustainability work so far. I believe the industry has come a long way and we are committed to adhering to various rules and regulations that have been put in place for vegetable oil in the market,” he added. — DayakDaily
