Palm oil producers urge EU to align deforestation ambitions with practical EUDR implementation

As the European Union enters the final phase of negotiations on the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), palm oil producing countries have gathered in Brussels for high-level talks with policymakers and industry representatives. The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) called for regulatory clarity and greater recognition of real progress in sustainable production, warning that environmental ambition must be matched with workable implementation.

CPOPC Secretary General Izzana Salleh said that major producers such as Indonesia and Malaysia have made tangible advances in reducing deforestation and strengthening national certification systems. According to her, producers are ready to comply with EUDR requirements, but unclear rules, unrealistic timelines and complex procedures risk leaving compliant companies in regulatory limbo.

The organisation also stressed the central role of smallholders in the global palm oil supply chain. CPOPC warned that if regulations unintentionally exclude small farmers, millions of rural livelihoods could be put at risk in regions where palm oil is a key driver of economic development. In its view, environmental goals and social fairness must progress hand in hand.

CPOPC further argued that declining deforestation rates in producing countries are often overlooked in European debates. Recent data show continued reductions in primary forest loss in Indonesia and Malaysia, reflecting stronger governance and expanded national sustainability standards. Recognising this progress, the group said, could lead to more proportionate risk assessments under the EUDR and smoother implementation for inclusive supply chains.

Following the Brussels meetings, CPOPC expressed cautious optimism about the EU’s willingness to engage constructively. However, the organisation emphasised the need for timely and clear decisions from the European Commission to provide certainty for markets. It reiterated that protecting the environment and safeguarding livelihoods should be treated as complementary responsibilities, not competing objectives.

Tags: palm oil, deforestation, Indonesia, EU, Malaysia