Brussels, 18/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - As they reiterated in Brussels on 16 November, Malaysia and Indonesia, which alone produce 90% of the world's palm oil, are far from agreeing to the EU setting up a barrier to their exports with its biofuel sustainability criteria introduced in Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of renewable energies. A joint delegation composed of Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Malaysia's Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, and Dr Bayu Krinamurthi, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, met Commissioners Janez Potocnik (Environment), Connie Hedegaard (Climate), Günther Oettinger (Energy), Vice-Chairman EP Development Committee Nirj Deva, and Paolo De Castro, Chair of the EP Committee on Agriculture and Development.
According to Malaysia and Indonesia, the criteria established by the European directive for the use of palm oil as a raw material for the production of biofuels could run counter to WTO rules in that this may constitute a “non-tariff barrier for the imports of palm oil into the European Union”. According to the wording used in their joint statement published after their visit to Brussels, the two countries consider that “provisions under this directive discriminates palm oil producers compared to other competing oil crops used as feedstock for biofuel production”. Furthermore, they will “monitor the implementation of this directive beginning 5 December 2010 and assess its implications on the import and use of palm oil for biofuel production”. (A.N./transl.jl)