Mah (centre) with the 18 EU ambassadors to Malaysia during a special meeting session hosted by Fernandez (to the left of the minister).
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent recommendation by the European Environmental Committee’s (ENVI) to exclude palm oil use from Renewable Energy Directive (RED) as early as 2021, has been described as discriminatory and unacceptable.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the recommendation was also against World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles as other oils and fats could still be used for biofuels under the RED until 2029.
Mah was speaking during a special dialogue session with 18 European ambassadors, led by Ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Malaysia, Maria Castillo Fernandez.
He urged the ambassadors, as the eyes and ears of their nations in Malaysia, to convey the correct perspectives about Malaysian palm oil to their EU counterparts, particularly by highlighting Malaysia’s commitment towards mandatory certified sustainable palm oil production by end-2019.
The closed door meeting was a follow up on a previous briefing by Mah with the European ambassadors three months ago, primarily focused on matters regarding the EU Parliamentary Resolution to link palm oil and deforestation.
During the meeting, Fernandez stressed that the EU resolution was now being worked through the European Commissioners and the European Council before possible legislative measures are proposed.
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