17/02/2012 (TEMPO Interactive) - Although the export volume of Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO) to the US was only 62,000 of the total 16.5 million tons in 2011, the Agriculture Minister is worried that the US’ accusations will be followed by other countries.

Plantation director-general Gamal Nasir said if the US’ notification was not responded to, rejection of Indonesia's export products could be followed by other countries.

“Our export volume to the US is insignificant, but it must be responded to,” Gamal told Tempo yesterday. He said the government was currently preparing a rebuttal to the US government.

The Annual Plant director Rismansyah Danasaputra added that Indonesia had not produced CPO for food, cosmetics or bio-fuel. Indonesia mostly exports unprocessed CPO to various countries, particularly India and China.

He said three points would be used to refute the US plan.

First, the model used by the US to measure environmental standard is not common. Second, the data was wrong. Third, he said, the US uses many assumptions.

“We have a national standard from the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)," he said.