09/11/2010 (World Bakers) - The production of palm oil in Indonesia will not be affected by the proposed ban on forest clearing in the country, a government official has said.

In the short term, production is unlikely to be affected as the growth from new plants will still be there, reported Reuters.

"Palm oil production will still be good next year and in 2012 because the growth in output will come from planting in previous years," said Mukti Sarjono, acting director general of plantations with the Agriculture Ministry.

"But the ban may impact production in 2014 and 2015," reports the news provider.

He was speaking at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) meeting in Jakarta.

The RSPO has created voluntary standards which include plans to preserve forests.