Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said on Tuesday it hopes European lawmakers will be "more accommodative" on sustainable policies, following a European Commission proposal to delay the implementation of a law that would ban imports of products linked to deforestation.
The proposed one-year delay would help give producing countries time to take the necessary steps to comply and rectify their policies, Malaysia Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani told a palm oil conference.
Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's largest producers of palm oil, have strongly opposed the EU law, calling it discriminatory and aimed at protecting the bloc's oilseeds market.
He also said a transparent benchmarking criteria would need to be closely looked over so as to not unfairly label producer countries as high-risk.
"In the spirit of trade fairness, we hope that the EU parliament will play a more accommodative role to address this matter," Johari said.
"As for Malaysia, we are consistently working toward complying with the global sustainable targets that we have committed to the world."
The policy, requiring companies selling soy, beef, coffee, palm oil and other products in the 27-nation bloc to prove their supply chains do not contribute to destruction of forests, was originally due to take effect on Dec. 30 this year.
The chairman of state agency the Malaysia Palm Oil Council told the event he was confident that implementation of European rules banning the import of products linked to deforestation will be deferred. - Reuters
