Latest news with #Belvinder
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
MPOC: RM122mil in trade deals unlocked in Philippines forum
KUALA LUMPUR: Business engagements at the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) Philippines 2025 have unlocked an estimated RM122 million in potential trade, reinforcing Malaysia's role as a major palm oil supplier in the Asean region. The two-day event, held in Manila from June 3 to 4 and hosted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), brought together over 400 participants and featured targeted BizMatch sessions. In a statement, MPOC said that this year marked the first time the council co-organised the forum with the Malaysian Oleochemicals Manufacturers Group and the United Coconut Association of the Philippines, further strengthening regional ties in the oils and fats sector. These one-on-one meetings between 16 Malaysian palm oil suppliers and buyers from the Philippines resulted in 121 business discussions aimed at securing commercial deals. MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the Philippines remains one of Malaysia's most important trade partners in the Asean region. "In 2024, the Philippines imported around 1.1 million tonnes of palm oil, with Malaysia supplying 61 per cent of its palm oil, solidifying its role as the top supplier," she said. She said that the strategy is focused on Asean, Africa, and the Middle East and has already yielded results, with exports to these regions growing by 24 per cent, from 6.0 million tonnes in 2020 to 7.5 million tonnes in 2024, marking a shift in Malaysia's export landscape. Belvinder expressed encouragement over the strong level of interest shown by Filipino buyers in the BizMatch outcomes. "BizMatch platform continues to be a powerful tool in creating real commercial opportunities for Malaysian exporters and helping buyers find reliable, high-quality suppliers committed to sustainability and value," Belvinder added. Malaysia's ambassador to the Philippines, Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, emphasised the importance of deepening bilateral trade. The forum included eight expert presentations on themes such as sustainability, downstream applications, nutrition, and global market outlooks. A key discussion panel, "Lauric Oils & Oleochemicals: Market Growth and Innovations", explored emerging trends in the Philippines, a growing market for lauric oils like palm kernel and coconut oil.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MPOC to seek European Commission's clarification on ‘standard risk' status for Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) will request clarification from the European Commission (EC) on its full benchmarking methodology used in its assessment on the 'standard risk' status given to Malaysia under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). An announcement made by the EC on Thursday has confirmed reports that Malaysia was given a 'standard risk' status under the EUDR country benchmarking system, while other countries with meagre records on forest loss and degradation, including EU member states, were given 'low risk' status. MPOC CEO Belvinder Sron said the EC's decision discredits the whole country's benchmarking system as the EUDR should encourage genuine progress, especially from countries such as Malaysia that have already shown leadership in sustainable forest management 'We will request clarification from EC on its full benchmarking methodology used in its assessment. This will be our top priority. 'The 'standard risk' status for Malaysia does not recognise at all the progress and achievements made by the Malaysian palm oil industry in reducing deforestation and producing sustainable palm oil for European consumers,' she said in a statement today. Belvinder noted that Malaysia has consistently demonstrated a strong and measurable commitment to forest conservation, achieving a significant reduction in deforestation over the past ten years. She said the latest independent satellite data from Satelligence showed Malaysia's palm oil sector has transformed its environmental footprint for the better, and confirms its leadership in tackling deforestation, while even the older UN data used by the EU highlighted the country's strong performance 'Furthermore, Global Forest Watch provided transparent, accessible, and consistent data, showing that Malaysia retains far more primary forest than many historically industrialised nations, and we are doing better at preserving it. 'Between 2014 and 2023, Malaysia reduced primary forest loss by 65%, outpacing global peers. In 2024 alone, we achieved a further 13% reduction, marking the first time Malaysia has dropped out of the global Top 10 for tropical primary forest loss,' she said. – Bernama
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
MPOC seeks clarification on Malaysia's standard risk status
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) will request clarification from the European Commission (EC) on its full benchmarking methodology used in its assessment on the 'standard risk' status given to Malaysia under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The announcement made by the EC yesterday has confirmed reports that Malaysia was given a 'standard risk' status under the EUDR country benchmarking system, while other countries with meagre records on forest loss and degradation, including EU member states, were given 'low risk' status. MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the EC's decision discredits the whole country benchmarking system as the EUDR should encourage genuine progress, especially from countries like Malaysia that have already shown leadership in sustainable forest management "We will request clarification from EC on its full benchmarking methodology used in its assessment. This will be our top priority. "The 'standard risk' status for Malaysia does not recognise at all the progress and achievements made by the Malaysian palm oil industry in reducing deforestation and producing sustainable palm oil for European consumers,' she said in a statement. Belvinder noted that Malaysia has consistently demonstrated a strong and measurable commitment to forest conservation, achieving a significant reduction in deforestation over the past ten years. She said the latest independent satellite data from Satelligence showed Malaysia's palm oil sector has transformed its environmental footprint for the better, and confirms its leadership in tackling deforestation, while even the older UN data used by the EU highlighted the country's strong performance "Furthermore, Global Forest Watch provided transparent, accessible, and consistent data, showing that Malaysia retains far more primary forest than many historically industrialised nations, and we are doing better at preserving it. "Between 2014 and 2023, Malaysia reduced primary forest loss by 65 per cent, outpacing global peers. In 2024 alone, we achieved a further 13 per cent reduction, marking the first time Malaysia has dropped out of the global Top 10 for tropical primary forest loss,' she said. Meanwhile, MPOC chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen said the Malaysian palm oil companies and smallholders have made significant strides to reduce primary forest loss and forest degradation. This is further exemplified through the mandatory implementation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme since 2020, which has led to a substantial reduction of forest loss in Malaysia. "The EC knows that we have a far better record on this than some European states. And yet they have rewarded its own members with 'low risk' status. This apparent favouritism will inevitably cause resentment instead of building bridges for closer cooperation,' he added. - Bernama
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MPOC decries EU deforestation risk rating, calls it 'highly questionable'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's palm oil producers have strongly criticised the European Commission's decision to assign the country a "standard risk" status under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), saying it overlooks Malaysia's progress in reducing deforestation. The commission's announcement confirmed earlier speculation that Malaysia, despite its efforts in sustainable practices, would not receive a "low risk" status under the EUDR country benchmarking system. The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said the decision appears inconsistent, noting that countries with weaker records on forest loss, including some EU member states, were granted the more favourable "low risk" classification. MPOC chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen said Malaysian palm oil producers, including smallholders, have made substantial efforts to reduce primary forest loss and degradation. He cited the mandatory Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, implemented since 2020, as proof of these efforts. "The European Commission knows that we have a far better record on this than some European states. Yet it has rewarded its own members with 'low risk' status,"" he said. "This apparent favouritism will inevitably cause resentment instead of building bridges for closer cooperation," Bek-Nielsen said in a statement. MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the outcome was disappointing and not what the industry had expected. "We are deeply disappointed at what we feel is a highly questionable decision," she said. "What concerns us most is the accompanying documentation outlining the data used by the commission in making this decision." Belvinder said MPOC will request clarification from the European Commission on its benchmarking methodology. She said the "standard risk" label fails to recognise Malaysia's progress in reducing deforestation and producing sustainable palm oil for the European market. "Malaysia has consistently demonstrated measurable commitment to forest conservation, achieving a significant reduction in deforestation over the past decade," she said. Citing independent satellite data from Satelligence, she said Malaysia's palm oil sector has improved its environmental footprint. Even older United Nations data, used by the EU, acknowledged Malaysia's strong performance, she added. Belvinder also pointed to Global Forest Watch data, which shows Malaysia retains more primary forest than many historically industrialised nations and performs better at preserving it. Between 2014 and 2023, Malaysia reduced primary forest loss by 65 per cent, outpacing global peers. In 2024 alone, the country recorded a further 13 per cent reduction, marking the first time it fell out of the global top 10 for tropical primary forest loss. "Since 2019, we've also seen a decline in total planted area for oil palm. Under the MSPO 2022 standard, we mandated zero conversion of natural forests, protected areas and High Conservation Value areas after Dec 31, 2019." She said Malaysia's sustainability policies are fully aligned with the deforestation-free and legality criteria of the EUDR and with its broader climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. "The European Commission's decision discredits the entire benchmarking system. The EUDR should encourage genuine progress, especially from countries like Malaysia that have already shown leadership in sustainable forest management."
New Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
European Commission must recognise MSPO certification to enhance EUDR compliance: MPOC
KUALA LUMPUR: The European Commission (EC) has been urged to recognise the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification in order to promote a greater acceptance of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) chief executive officer Belvinder Kaur said the MSPO certification effectively prohibited deforestation for palm oil production post-2019; studies also show a high degree of convergence between the certification and EUDR standards. "Recognising convergent national certification schemes (such as MSPO) as EUDR-compliant would streamline compliance obligations for producers, remove unnecessary duplication and reduce due diligence obligations for buyers to the minimum," she told Bernama. Belvinder also urged EC to accept Malaysia's sustainability achievements and classify the country as low-risk under the EUDR's country benchmarking system. "Several international organisations, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Resources Institute, have indicated a significant decline in Malaysia's forest loss, which is consistent with 'low risk' status. "In this regard, Malaysian palm oil is no longer a driver of deforestation, and a 'low-risk' status is a needed tool to simplify EUDR compliance while alleviating the burden on EU buyers and Malaysian producers," she said in response to the EC's announcement to simplify EUDR implementation via an updated guideline and frequently asked question (FAQ) on April 15, 2025. MPOC acknowledges the simplifications made, but this will only be meaningful if these simplifications trickle down to producers in Malaysia and reduce unnecessary, duplicative compliance burdens. "The reality is, EUDR imposes a significant administrative burden for palm oil producers, particularly smallholders in Malaysia. "Therefore, simplification efforts for all stakeholders, including the producing countries, are most important, instead of targeted simplification for certain stakeholders in the supply chain," said Belvinder. On another note, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the updated guideline provides greater clarity to implement the EUDR, which benefits mainly EU companies and Malaysian exporters by reducing ambiguity and aligning practices with regulatory requirements. "We appreciate the move to allow companies to submit due diligence statements annually instead of for every shipment or batch placed on the EU market. However, it is important to emphasise that the core obligations and requirements outlined in the main text of the EUDR remain unchanged. "Malaysian exporters to the EU will still need to comply with all the EUDRs," he said, adding that the estimated 30 per cent fall in administrative costs will primarily benefit EU companies. Ahmad Parveez said these clarifications may assist in understanding the implementation process, but they do not significantly reduce the compliance burden, especially among small and medium-sized companies. "Malaysian exporters are still required to meet stringent compliance requirements, including detailed geolocation data and proof of deforestation-free sourcing. "Therefore, the industry continues to advocate greater recognition of national sustainability certifications, such as the MSPO certification, and for transparent benchmarking criteria to ensure fair treatment under the EUDR," he added. Originally set to apply in December 2024, the EUDR is now scheduled to enter into force at the end of 2025 for member states, operators and traders. Hence, the EC published new guidance documents to facilitate this. "The updated guidance and FAQ will provide companies, EU member states' authorities and partner countries with additional simplified measures and clarifications on how to demonstrate that their products are deforestation-free. "Both documents reflect the input from member states, partner countries, businesses, and industry. This will also guarantee harmonised implementation of the law across the EU," said the EC.
