COUNCIL TO COUNTER NEGATIVE PUBLICITY ON PALM OIL TO BE OPERATIONAL BY YEAR-END

KUCHING (Sarawak, Malaysia), May 13 (Bernama) -- The European Palm Oil Council (EPOC) is expected to be operational by year-end, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok.

Dompok said EPOC would counter negative publicity in the European Union (EU) countries on palm oil industry in Malaysia and Indonesia.

"It will focus on oil palm issues such as sustainability, energy security and public health.

"We hope the council can get off the ground by next year," he told reporters after the sixth joint committee meeting on bilateral cooperation on commodities between Malaysia and Indonesia here Friday.

Indonesia was represented by its Agriculture Minister Dr Suswono Asyraf.

He said EPOC would also provide a platform for both countries to explain and counter baseless accusations to the targeted groups -- non-governmental organisations, media, non-aligned lobby groups and European Parliament members.

Dompok said Malaysia and Indonesia were also concerned about Australia's new legislation that could have negative effects on oil palm industry.

"Both countries see it as discriminatory as other vegetable oils are not required to be labelled as sustainable," he said

He said Australia's Food Standards Amendment (Truth In Labeling-Palm Oil) Bill 2009 would negate the development of palm oil industry, which has successfully eradicated rural poverty.

Indonesia is the world largest oil palm producer followed by Malaysia.