What is the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries?

Recently, the Largest producers of oil in the World namely Indonesia and Malaysia have put forward their proposals seeking to hire the advocacy firm in order to run the campaign in Europe. Both the countries are looking for opportunities to run an advocacy campaign in Europe through the Council of Palm Oil producing countries.

What these countries wants to start campaign?

• The European Union (EU) highlighted that these countries are the largest producers of palm oil primarily Malaysia.
• But, in order to produce the oil, they clear vast areas of biodiversity rich rainforest in the South East Asia.
• Such rapid clearance of the biodiversity is exploiting the migrant workers.
• Thus, the European Union is planning to bring up legislations on deforestation under the European Green Deal which will restrict the use of palm oil in fuel and food.
• Thus, the Council of Palm Oil producing countries (CPOPC) are looking for opportunities to launch campaigns so that they can change the perception of European Union countries.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Union. The deal was signed with the aim to become the world’s first climate-neutral bloc by 2050.

Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries

• It is an intergovernmental organisation which was established in the year 2015.
• Indonesia and Malaysia are considered as the founders of the Council of Palm Oil Producing countries.
• The council was established with the aim of promoting and strengthening the cooperation in oil palm cultivation.
• The council seeks to enhance the welfare of oil palm stakeholders and addresses the impediments to palm oil trade.
• The council has fixed its six main focus areas of cooperation namely:

1. Sustainability of palm oil.
2. Research and Innovation in the oil field.
3. Productivity of small holders.
4. Industrial cooperation for the value-added production.
5. Trade policy issues and
6. Technical regulations and Standards.

• Among the members, Malaysia and Indonesia account for 85% of the global palm oil output.

EU Legislation on Deforestation

The European Union had finalised its rule on deforestation in the year 2019. The 2019 legislation by the EU seeks to phase out the palm oil from the renewable fuel by 2030. This legislation was introduced because of rapid deforestation.