CPOPC criticizes Belgium over a proposed ban on palm oil, says it could impact ASEAN-EU relations

The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has expressed its disappointment over Belgium’s notification to the European Commission that it proposes a ban on palm oil as a renewable source of biofuel in the near future, and said the move could be a step back in ties between ASEAN and the European Union. The CPOPC, which comprises of Indonesia and Malaysia, and soon of the countries of Colombia, Ghana, Honduras and Papua New Guinea, reminded Belgium of the key economic and social development role that the palm oil plays in the development of these countries and in meeting the UN SDGs. In a letter addressed to the Belgian prime minister, the Council also highlighted that the proposal will undermine the considerable progress being made by the palm oil producing countries in complying with the certification schemes that assure reliable, sustainable supply chains. “This is in sharp contrast to EU’s Common Agricultural Policy to promote of the cultivation of oil seeds for ...