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Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Ministry will explain the country’s sustainable palm oil production practices to European Union representatives, according to Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said the ministry expects an EU delegation to visit Malaysia between September and October.
He added: “They have already recognized the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification. We want them to fully accept our sustainability and traceability systems.”
He said he is waiting for the delegation’s visit so they can see directly how Malaysia implements these practices.
Johari’s remarks came in response to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which recently classified Malaysia as a “standard-risk” country.
Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive Roslan Azmy Hassan had previously said the classification could exclude palm oil producers, especially smallholders, from the EU market despite their compliance with national standards such as MSPO.
MSPO is Malaysia’s national sustainability certification, designed to ensure environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable palm oil production.
Johari also encouraged the country’s commodity-sector players to adopt sustainability practices, especially if they intend to export agricultural products.
He said compliance with EUDR is necessary, noting that many Malaysian products are exported to Europe.
He added that large companies with plantations, refineries, and oleochemical plants control the entire supply chain, but Malaysia wants to ensure MSPO also covers smallholders.
So far, around 85% of smallholders are compliant, he said.
Regarding cocoa farmers, Johari said he wants all of them to register with the Malaysian Cocoa Board so their crops can be certified.
Source: New Straits Times