16/10/2012 (Bernama) - Malaysia and France will set up a joint working committee to address the negative issues on palm oil raised by several parties in Paris, said Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Dompok said French Minister for Agriculture Stephane Le Foll brought the proposal to the table during his official visit to France last month.

He said at the moment, both governments were waiting for the related officials to form the joint working taskforce.

"Malaysia welcomes Paris' move in addressing the issue. We are more than happy to address it," he said on the sidelines of the International Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2012 (POTS) here Monday.

Several parties in France had launched campaigns against Malaysia's palm oil and palm oil-based products, saying palm oil was unhealthy for consumers and its production harmed the environment.

Dompok said Malaysia was always on alert to counter the actions by certain retailers, who would go to the extent of labelling food products as non-palm oil.