NGO: EU should not ban palm oil-based biofuel

Malaysian palm oil futures edged lower on Friday as traders awaited industry production data for the first 20 days of the month before taking any fresh positions.

KUALA LUMPUR: The European Union (EU), which is proposing a ban on the use of Malaysian palm oil-based biofuel within the eurozone, should reconsider the proposal so as not to affect the livelihood of small farmers, says an advocate for Planters United, a non-governmental organisation made up of a group of smallholder planters.

Saying that the proposed ban was invalid and unjustified, Tiow Weng Theong pointed out that Malaysia had taken all necessary steps and successfully implemented various environmental control measures while enhancing the community’s living standards through oil palm cultivation activities.