BANGI, Nov 1 — The Netherlands has agreed to support Malaysia at the second meeting regarding the European Union’s Deforestation-free Products Regulation (EUDR) this December, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Speaking to the press after the meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte today, Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said they discussed how the Netherlands could support in the context of providing rationales and the best solutions to the issue.
“This includes how they (the EU) can recognise the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme, which we developed and made mandatory for our entire palm oil production sector.
“We hope the EU will also agree to recognise the MPSO as an EUDR audit process at the meeting, which would help the palm oil industry,” he said, adding the EUDR will come into effect within 18 months after being approved by the European Parliament.
The meeting was in conjunction with Rutte’s two-day working visit to Malaysia, which ends today.
Recently, Fadillah said the MSPO scheme aims to ensure oil palm cultivation activities in the country do not affect the environment and are in conformance with good and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Our commitment to the world is that our forest (coverage) must not be less than 50 per cent, so we have to balance the need for (oil palm) production without sacrificing our natural environment. This is our commitment for future generations, ” he said.
Malaysia will host the second meeting on the EUDR this December, which will determine whether the MSPO will be accepted as part of the audit process under the EUDR.
Fadillah noted the first meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 4 last year yielded some positive results for Malaysia.
— Bernama
