Kok: M’sia needs to engage EU over palm oil issue
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to continue its hard work in engaging its European Union (EU) counterparts over the issue of palm oil in anticipation of another round of attack, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.
“After many months of battle and backing our claims with proven facts, the EU Trilogue voted not to discriminate against palm biofuels,” said Kok at the Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2018 yesterday.
The event was organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
The battle, Kok said, was only half won since there would be pumpedup activity on the basis of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC).
MPOC chief executive officer Datuk Dr Kalyana Sundram said the countering of the proposed ban on palm oil biofuel was only a short reprieve.
The European Commission has begun new challenges, which includes studying the ILUC impact for all biofuels.
“From our intelligence gathering, we know they will be targeting both soya and palm under this category.
“This is a challenge because if they succeed in classifying palm as having a high ILUC, then they will move and say it is not suitable for use in their Renewable Energy Directives,” he said.
“MPOC is already getting experts to review the ILUC factor for palm oil and to present the case to EU legislators when the time is right,” he added.