European Parliament environment committee voted to ban biofuels produced from palm oil

None of the palm oil producing governments have yet made any statement in the European media about the EU plan to ban biofuels from palm oil. Members of the European Parliament environment committee voted on 23 October to ban biofuels produced from palm oil, as part of the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive. Malaysia Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities stated clearly the EU approach was unacceptable and could lead to trade retaliation. In Brussels, calling for a ban on palm oil may be seen as a quaint pet project of a few MEPs. In Malaysia, it is seen as an existential threat to families and livelihoods.