Ecobiz.asia — The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has urged the European Union to provide clearer regulatory guidance and acknowledge sustainability progress made by producer countries as the bloc enters the final stage of negotiations on its Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
During high-level meetings in Brussels with EU policymakers and industry stakeholders, CPOPC conveyed that regulatory certainty and realistic implementation timelines are essential to ensure the effectiveness of the regulation.
The organisation warned that ambitious environmental targets must be supported by practical and workable implementation on the ground.
CPOPC Secretary General Izzana Salleh said major palm oil producers, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have recorded tangible progress in reducing deforestation and strengthening national certification systems.
“Producers are ready to comply with EUDR requirements, but unclear rules, unrealistic timelines and complex procedures risk placing compliant companies in regulatory uncertainty,” Izzana said in a statement, Tuesday (Dec 23, 2025).
CPOPC also underlined the critical role of smallholders in the global palm oil supply chain. According to the organisation, regulations that inadvertently marginalise small farmers could threaten millions of rural livelihoods in producing countries, where palm oil remains a key driver of local economic development. It stressed that environmental protection and social inclusion should advance together.
The organisation further noted that declining deforestation rates in producing countries are often insufficiently reflected in European policy discussions.
CPOPC pointed to recent data showing continued reductions in primary forest loss in Indonesia and Malaysia, attributing the trend to stronger governance and the expansion of national sustainability standards.
It said greater recognition of these developments could lead to more proportionate risk assessments under the EUDR and support smoother implementation across inclusive supply chains.
Following the Brussels meetings, CPOPC said it was cautiously optimistic about the EU’s willingness to engage constructively, while emphasising the need for timely and clear decisions from the European Commission to provide certainty for markets. The organisation reiterated that environmental protection and livelihood security should be treated as mutually reinforcing goals. ***
