Indonesian palm oil sector expresses concerns over EU deforestation legislation

The Indonesian government and country’s palm oil trade bodies have reportedly expressed concerns over the EU deforestation regulations based on due diligence principles being put forward under the European parliament, writes Neill Barston. While the need for greater regulation and transparency in relation to commercial supply chains, including the cocoa sector has been widely welcomed across Europe and further afield, divisions are said to have emerged with supply partners in South East Asia over the potential impact of any new legislation, according to industry organisations in the region. Under the legislation being brought forward in the EU parliament, there would be an enhanced level of onus on individual companies to ensure that deforestation is not linked to products being imported to the EU from locations around the world, including key cocoa supplies in West Africa, and other major ingredients including palm oil from across South East Asia. Consequently, as noted by the ...