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Malaysia to allay fears in EU over oil palm cultivation
Malaysia to allay fears in EU over oil palm cultivation
4/6/07 (Business Times) - MALAYSIA's palm oil, which has gained acceptance in the food processing industry in the US after a long-drawn battle with soyabean oil, is now up against environmentalists in the European Union (EU).
Environmentalists are accusing Malaysia, which is the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil, of upsetting biodiversity as it brings more land into oil palm cultivation.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin has embarked on a week-long troubleshooting mission with senior officials and industry players to counter what the Malaysian Government terms as unfair lobbying led by environmental non-government organisations (NGOs).
The mission is of significance to Malaysia as the EU is Malaysia's second largest importer of palm oil, representing 17.9 per cent, or 2.58 million tonnes, last year as higher demand for palm oil came from both the edible and non-edible sectors.
"These European sceptics seem to think that oil palm is widely grown in Malaysia at the expense of the environment and is a significant contributor of carbon dioxide emissions globally," Chin told Business Times in an interview.
Describing palm oil as the first tropical plantation commodity to address global concerns by specifying principles and criteria for sustainable production, Chin said the adverse publicity has intensified in the last six months.
"The NGOs are starting to distribute pamphlets on anti-palm oil through posters and so on to pressurise major stores like Tesco and Sainsbury's, to discourage them from buying or selling palm oil ... that in itself will have a major impact on the consumption pattern of European consumers," he said.
Allegations include environmental damage, deforestation, climate change and destruction of the natural habitat of the Orang Utan.
Chin, who did a similar trip to Europe last year to counter claims against Malaysian timber, said this time there are unfounded claims that biodiesel demand in the EU will lead to indiscriminate expansion of plantations in Malaysia.
Most of Europe's biodiesel fuel is sourced mostly from rapeseed oil now, which is unable to meet the surge in demand as Europe's bio-fuel policy targets a 5.75 per cent biofuel use by 2010.
Chin said he is determined to challenge these false claims at every level - from NGOs to legislators in all three EU countries he will be visiting - the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.
Chin will be meeting Dutch Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer, Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Minister Gerda Verburg as well as other Members of Parliament (MPs) today.
He is to meet with EU MPs in a dialogue session in Brussels tomorrow. There will be a symposium on sustainable resource development on Wednesday.
His 25-member team includes Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Datuk Sabri Ahmad, who is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Golden Hope Plantations Bhd, Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) chairman Datuk Seri Lee Oi Hian, who is also the CEO of KL Kepong Bhd, MPOC CEO Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron and Malaysian Palm Oil Association CEO Datuk Mamat Salleh.
Malaysia and Indonesia, also a large palm oil producer in the world, recently teamed up to combat palm oil smear campaigns.
Environmentalists are accusing Malaysia, which is the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil, of upsetting biodiversity as it brings more land into oil palm cultivation.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin has embarked on a week-long troubleshooting mission with senior officials and industry players to counter what the Malaysian Government terms as unfair lobbying led by environmental non-government organisations (NGOs).
The mission is of significance to Malaysia as the EU is Malaysia's second largest importer of palm oil, representing 17.9 per cent, or 2.58 million tonnes, last year as higher demand for palm oil came from both the edible and non-edible sectors.
"These European sceptics seem to think that oil palm is widely grown in Malaysia at the expense of the environment and is a significant contributor of carbon dioxide emissions globally," Chin told Business Times in an interview.
Describing palm oil as the first tropical plantation commodity to address global concerns by specifying principles and criteria for sustainable production, Chin said the adverse publicity has intensified in the last six months.
"The NGOs are starting to distribute pamphlets on anti-palm oil through posters and so on to pressurise major stores like Tesco and Sainsbury's, to discourage them from buying or selling palm oil ... that in itself will have a major impact on the consumption pattern of European consumers," he said.
Allegations include environmental damage, deforestation, climate change and destruction of the natural habitat of the Orang Utan.
Chin, who did a similar trip to Europe last year to counter claims against Malaysian timber, said this time there are unfounded claims that biodiesel demand in the EU will lead to indiscriminate expansion of plantations in Malaysia.
Most of Europe's biodiesel fuel is sourced mostly from rapeseed oil now, which is unable to meet the surge in demand as Europe's bio-fuel policy targets a 5.75 per cent biofuel use by 2010.
Chin said he is determined to challenge these false claims at every level - from NGOs to legislators in all three EU countries he will be visiting - the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.
Chin will be meeting Dutch Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer, Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Minister Gerda Verburg as well as other Members of Parliament (MPs) today.
He is to meet with EU MPs in a dialogue session in Brussels tomorrow. There will be a symposium on sustainable resource development on Wednesday.
His 25-member team includes Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Datuk Sabri Ahmad, who is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Golden Hope Plantations Bhd, Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) chairman Datuk Seri Lee Oi Hian, who is also the CEO of KL Kepong Bhd, MPOC CEO Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron and Malaysian Palm Oil Association CEO Datuk Mamat Salleh.
Malaysia and Indonesia, also a large palm oil producer in the world, recently teamed up to combat palm oil smear campaigns.