PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – By the end of 2023, the Indonesian government must take decisive action by imposing sanctions on any company utilizing the ‘palm oil-free’ (POF) label on their products, particularly if these products are being sold within the country. This response is prompted by the violation of regulations as publicized by the Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM).
Rizal Affandi Lukman, the General Secretary of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), asserted that the use of the POF label is considered a breach of regulations and an unethical marketing strategy. He emphasized that products bearing the POF label do not necessarily have a more positive environmental impact compared to those containing palm oil.
Rizal also supported what Chairman of Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA), Eddy Martono did by saying to firmly act the companies using POF label.
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IPOA also planned to send official documents to BPOM to firm act the company. He was sorry for it using POF label and it is taken to discredit palm oil industries without scientific base.
Rizal told POF label is part of negative campaign in palm oil sector. It has no scientific evidences about palm oil sustainability values. “More than that, the label would discredit palm oil industries because of higher competitive values than other vegetable oils,” he said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com, Sunday (31/12/2023).
The decision is hoped to deliver deterrent effect for the companies using POF label without scientific base and it would be confirming that the information told to the consumers about products would be accurate and responsible. (T2)
