MPOC - PRESS RELEASE: Symposium on Sustainable Resource Development, Brussels 2007

Malaysia Calls for Greater Efforts on Sustainable Development
of Palm Oil Industry

Brussels, Belgium – 6 June 2007 – Malaysia’s Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, responsible for palm oil, has called for the palm oil industry to do more to address the issue of sustainability.

Minister Datuk Peter Chin said: “The palm oil industry is facing issues raised by NGOs ranging from the destruction of rainforest and loss of biodiversity to land clearance for agricultural purposes. We have learned many lessons about maintaining biodiversity and the balance between the needs of man and the needs of the environment, but we recognise that there is still more we can do.”

Minister Chin, speaking at the Symposium on Sustainable Resource Development in Brussels, said “we do understand that the dynamic demands of the current world require us to reconcile the pressures of continuing to provide nutrition to populations, returns to the shareholders and maintaining a balance between wildlife and society. Our commitment is to sustainability through programmes such as the RSPO, minimising our C02 emissions, and adopting agricultural practices that conserve the rainforests and wildlife.”

Biodiesel from Malaysian palm oil was shown to have up to 80 % reduction of CO2 emissions compared to normal fossil fuels, according to a presentation by Carbon Capital Solutions.

The symposium is a reflection of the industry’s continuing effort to address concerns from European regulators and government agencies, environmental bodies and NGOs, food processors and manufacturers, importers and traders, retailers and supermarket chains, and indeed the public at large.

“Malaysia wants to pursue a continued dialogue on sustainability and biodiversity. We recognise the importance of standards to ensure sustainability, and believe that the best way to achieve them is to engage directly with those who have to implement and enforce them on the ground,” he said.

About MPOC

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (‘MPOC’) spearheads Malaysia’s quest to be a responsible and efficient supplier of palm oil in the global market. An industry-funded organisation, MPOC undertakes responsible marketing and educational activities for palm oil to ensure the continued confidence of consumers worldwide.

MPOC is internationally recognised as a centre for information on all matters concerning palm oil and related industries, and continues together with its sister organisation, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (‘MPOB’) to conduct extensive research and development into an industry, which was first introduced into Malaysia (then Malaya) in 1870 from West Africa.

Through well-funded and sound research, MPOC initiates sustainability initiatives, social programmes and product development in Malaysia and around the world.

For more information about the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, please visit: www.mpoc.org.my
For more information about Malaysia Palm Oil, please visit: www.MalaysiaPalmOil.org

For further information please contact:
Belvinder Sron
Tel: 03- 78064097 / e-mail : bel@mpoc.org.my

For editorial information please contact:
Rory Macrae, GPlus Europe
Te; : +32 477 439 279 / email : rorymacrae@gpluseurope.com