MALAYSIA hopes France’s stand against the European Union’s (EU) resolution to ban palm oil imports from Asian countries can become a reality during the negotiation session between EU Council of Ministers and EU members of Parliament.

In a statement today, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Mah Siew Keong, said the open support of the French government representatives for the sustainable palm industry was important.

“It is capable of correcting negative perceptions among ministers from 28 EU countries that will take part in the talks,” he said. 

Mah said of the 751 members of the EU parliament, France has the second highest number of representatives – 74 compared to Germany’s 96.

“Malaysia hopes French representatives will give due consideration and support our efforts to defend and uphold social justice for over 650,000 smallholders,” he said.

He said Malaysia’s exports to France amounted to RM5.3 billion, mainly electrical and electronics products as well as rubber-based products, from January to November 2017.

On Monday, Mah met with French Defence Minister, Florence Parly, at the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur.

Also present was Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

At the meeting, Parly had said France did not support discriminatory policies and the French government appreciated the goodwill enjoyed between Malaysia and France. 

The EU Parliament’s resolution urged the union to phase out palm oil from the EU biofuel programme by 2020 because it resulted in the destruction of forests. – Bernama, January 30, 2018.