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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

EU Hypocrisy On Peat

The EU delegation visiting Malaysia last week had Peatlands at the top of the agenda.  Why? They intend for Peatlands to be a key part of the checklist in the forthcoming EU Deforestation Criteria for biofuels, under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

There is a significant change between the 2009 RED text and the revised version that was agreed upon by the EU’s lawmaking bodies in July. So what’s the … Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

ICYMI: French Government Supports EU Trade Ban Against Palm Oil

In the wake of the French Government Spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux publicly stating that the “fight/combat against Palm Oil will be the roadmap” for newly appointed Deputy Environment Minister Emmanuelle Wargon, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry effectively confirmed that France is indeed supporting the EU’s ongoing discriminatory campaign against Palm Oil.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that the French National Strategy to Combat Imported Deforestation prioritises “deforestation and climate change”Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

This Week EU Experts Visit Malaysia: What’s at Stake?

Today, an EU Expert Group will arrive in Malaysia to begin a ‘fact-finding’ mission about Palm Oil. The European delegation will be led by Paula Abreu Marques, Head of Unit for Renewable Energy in the EU Commission’s Energy Directorate, and is expected to include EU technocrats dealing with environment, energy, and agriculture. The delegation is planning to visit oil palm plantations, and to conduct meetings with Malaysian leaders of government, … Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

French Government Spokesperson Claims Support for anti-Palm Oil Campaign

France has had a busy political week. French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his new cabinet team following a third reshuffle of his Government since he took office back in May 2017. This included the appointment of Ms. Emmanuelle Wargon as Deputy Environment Minister.

Ms. Wargon – among her many other qualifications – is the former Director of Public Affairs at Danone, France’s leading Food company. During her time at Danone, … Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

ILUC: Who is in Favour and Why?

In our previous blog, the Oil Palm looked into the ongoing preparations from the European Commission to determine which biofuels are “risky”, and therefore should be restricted. Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) criteria as well as High Carbon Stock (HCS) will be part of the calculation that determines which biofuels are “risky”. But that is not all.

The European Commission has raised concerns about the use of ILUC: this … Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

ICYMI: Malaysia Government Says EU’s Approach to Palm Oil ‘Very Unfair’

Malaysia’s Primary Industries Minister Ms Teresa Kok has made clear to the EU in a Politico Europe article published this week that any attempt to implement protectionist trade policies that effectively single out Palm Oil, and favour noncompetitive European oilseeds, will not be tolerated by the Malaysian Government.

Any attempt to impose restrictions on Palm Oil biofuels, or to classify Palm Oil as ‘risky’ is a de facto ban, … Read More

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ICYMI: Malaysia’s Swiss Message: No Trade Agreement without Palm Oil

In a visit to Switzerland this week by Malaysian Minister of Primary Industries Ms Teresa Kok, the Minister reminded the Swiss Government and other stakeholders, including the Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann, that Malaysia will not tolerate nor consider Palm Oil being discriminated against in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between Malaysia and Switzerland.

Minister Kok’s comments were highlighted in the … Read More

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The Oil Palm The Oil Palm

ICYMI: Palm Oil Producing Countries Unite in Opposition to EU Biofuels Policy

The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) released a statement outlining its clear opposition to the EU’s proposed action that could define Palm Oil biofuels as risky based on supposed scientific calculations known as Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) and High Carbon Stock (HCS).

The CPOPC states: “CPOPC is of the view that the use of ILUC to target palm oil would represent a basic violation of the non-discriminatory principles Read More