‘No palm oil’ labels are illegal, says council
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council reminds retailers that enforcement of the law banning such slogans on products has come into full force.
19/06/2023 (Free Malaysia Today), Kuala Lumpur - The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has “strongly” urged retailers to remove all products and advertising materials displayed and sold that bear discriminatory logos against palm oil from their premises.
Failure to do so could land them with a RM250,000 fine or jail time not exceeding five years, MPOC said in a statement today.
It said the regulations under Section 69 of the Trade Description Act 2011 prohibit any person in the course of any business or trade, or in any advertisement, to use any statement, expression, or indication that discriminates against or boycotts palm oil products.
The regulations came into effect in March 2022 and after a grace period of one year, its enforcement has now come into full force.
“Retail outlets that display and sell products labelled as ‘No Palm Oil’ (NPO) will face penalties if found guilty by enforcement officers of the domestic trade and cost of living ministry.
“In a survey conducted by MPOC, it was found that 80 outlets in the Klang Valley sell these products, with a concentration in high-end areas of the region.
“Letters have been sent to the eight holding companies of the 80 outlets to draw their attention and urge them to take immediate action to comply with the regulations.
“The NPO label may appear in many other claims such as ‘Palm Oil Free’, ‘Without Palm Oil’, ‘No Palm Fat’, ‘Never Palm Oil’, and others, in English or in foreign languages,” it said.
The survey also found that it may also appear as distinct logos, depicting orangutans, or putting a slash or a cross mark across a picture of oil palm.
MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said palm oil is the number one national commodity and “plays a significant role in our economy and it should be protected as best as possible”.
Moreover, palm oil is a versatile and widely used ingredient across various industries, including the food, oleochemicals, and biofuel sectors.
“While it is important to encourage sustainable and responsible practices within the palm oil industry, it is equally crucial to avoid creating a prejudiced narrative against this commodity as a whole.
“If all anti-palm oil efforts in the country are not addressed, palm-based products will continue to be denigrated and boycotted in the world market,” she said.