Support our palm oil standard, M’sia urges EU

PETALING JAYA: The European Union (EU) should show its commitment to working with Malaysia to ensure sustainable production of palm oil by recognising the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard, said Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.

The Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister was responding to a statement by the EU Delegation to Malaysia on Monday.

In the statement, the delegation said the European Parliament Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation, adopted on April 4, was non-binding and was not part of a legislative initiative that needed to be ratified by EU member countries.

“While we note that it is non-binding, Malaysia is disappointed that the proposals put forth in the EU Parliament’s Resolution on Deforestation are being enacted by the Commission through the formal, binding EU regulatory process,” Mah said yesterday.

He said Malaysia has world-leading sustainable palm oil practices and attempts by the Environment Committee of the EU to suggest otherwise were unacceptable.

“After all, Malaysia and the EU have been engaged in talks to secure a free trade agreement,” Mah said.

Mah said the Government would take the necessary actions to safeguard the rights of over 650,000 oil palm smallholders and to secure the future of an industry that has enabled millions of Malaysians to escape poverty.

“Protectionist discrimination against palm oil exports will not be tolerated,” he added.

He said the EU Delegation to Malaysia had stated that the EU remained committed to working with Malaysia to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry, adding that as such, the EU should recognise the MSPO which was developed by Malaysia and which has been implemented.

“Malaysian palm oil exporters are able to meet the strictest standards of sustainability required by our European customers, and palm oil biofuel exporters have been certified as sustainable by leading European sustainability schemes, including the German International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. This has been recognised by the European Commission,” he said.

Mah said a special meeting would be held between him and the ambassadors from the EU countries to Malaysia in the coming weeks to discuss matters pertaining to the EU Parliament Resolution on Palm Oil.