Council to address ‘palm oil-free’ label issue

PETALING JAYA: The efficiency and significant contribution of national sustainability schemes such as the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) should be acknowledged, according to the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC).

To address the misleading “palm oil-free” labels, the council will continue to support its member countries.

“The CPOPC cannot disregard emerging policies such as due diligence of the global supply chains and the deforestation-free commodities that could be unfair and biased,” said the council in a statement following the 23rd senior officials meeting in Langkawi, Kedah yesterday.

The meeting was also attended by observers from Colombia, Ghana, Honduras, and Papua New Guinea.

According to the council, palm oil producing countries are credible and offer a resilient supply chain to feed the world.

“It is important to promote the partnership and collaboration among relevant stakeholders and abandon indiscriminatory treatment of sustainable palm oil for good,” said the council.

It also plans to introduce the Global Framework Principles for Sustainable Palm Oil (GFP-SPO) to multilateral arenas, including the United Nations.

This is in line with CPOPC’s aim to promote a global recognition of GFP-SPO as a basis for developing the sustainability standard for vegetable oil.

At the meeting, leaders also affirmed the commitment of CPOPC member and observer countries to accelerate clean energy transitions through the exploration of coordinated common approaches in strengthening national biodiesel programmes.

The council will play a greater role in promoting palm-based biodiesel including through research and development, investments, and exchanges of technology.

There is a growing strategic importance to strengthen the alliance of palm oil producing countries given the challenges the global vegetable oil sector is facing, according to the council.

“The CPOPC will accelerate the accession of observer countries and other major palm oil producing countries to join the council as full members,” it said.

CPOPC also highlighted the need for it to assume a greater role and leadership for all palm oil producing countries.

The council would be focusing on the sustainability of the supply chain of the industry, promote meaningful support for the smallholders, through the establishment of a smallholder forum.

Closer collaborations with the relevant regional and global organisations are also on the agenda, according to the CPOPC.