Envoy Felda S Palm Oil Export To Eu Won T Be Affected By New Law

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A European Union envoy today assured Felda smallholders that the commodities they produce will not be affected by the EU Deforestation Regulation - a newly legislated environmental law that targets eight commodities, including palm oil, farmed on lands deforested after 2020.
Michalis Rokas, who is the EU Ambassador to Malaysia, told representatives of Felda settlers during an engagement session this morning that the new law will not have an impact on the land development project participants as Felda has not cleared any forest to open new plantations since 1990.
"Since your plantations (under) Felda had no more deforestation since 1990, the rule doesn't apply.
"I want to make it clear, it (Deforestation Regulation) will only apply if the land is cleared from Jan 1, 2021. Let's put it that way. Only then, if you want to export to EU countries, will it apply. Then it will not be allowed," he said.
The session, held in Kuala Lumpur, was organised jointly by the EU Mission to Malaysia and Foreign Correspondents Club Malaysia (FCCM) and focused on discussing the new regulation and its impact on Malaysia's commodity trade with the EU.
The new regulation was passed by the European Parliament last month, where it obliges companies to ensure products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation and forest degradation.
European Union Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis RokasThe regulation covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, rubber, charcoal, and printed paper products.
Earlier during the session, National Felda Settlers' Children's Association (Anak) chairperson Mazlan Aliman told the forum that Felda had last been involved in deforestation in 1990, when it opened the Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
Rokas, in his speech, said there had been many misconceptions about the EU regulation, including that it was aimed at certain commodities to protect vegetable oil products produced in Europe.
Denying this, the ambassador claimed that it was purely an environmental law as "the EU wants to contribute to fight climate change" and preserve forests.
When pressed by a representative from the Malaysia Palm Oil Council on why the new law only applies to eight commodities, Rokas said the regulation is "very fair" with respect to sustainable development goals and the eight commodities listed had been chosen through scientific studies.
For example, he said, scientists around the world had found that cattle rearing had contributed the "most deforestation".
He, however, declined to comment further on the details of how the eight commodities made it into the list, saying he was not an expert.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah YusofMeanwhile, Rokas was also asked to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof's remarks in January, where he said that Malaysia could stop exporting palm oil to the EU in response to its new regulation.
On this, the ambassador said the "harsh" statement was regrettable but added he would not comment on what political leaders do.
Instead, Rokas said he believed that Fadillah "perhaps did not have all the elements" when he made the comment as the latter had just assumed office. - Mkini

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