PALMOILMAGAZINE, BRUSSEL – The third meeting of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Joint Task Force was held in Brussels on September 12, 2024, marking a critical step toward addressing global deforestation. Representatives from the European Union, Indonesia, and Malaysia attended, facilitated by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), to discuss EUDR implementation and its anticipated impact on key commodities, including palm oil, coffee, rubber, wood, and cocoa.
European Commission Director General for Environment, Florika Fink-Hooijer, opened the meeting, welcoming over 80 stakeholders who joined in person or virtually, including Indonesian and Malaysian officials, private sector representatives, smallholders, and academics, all united in tackling deforestation challenges.
Indonesia’s Musdhalifah Machmud, Expert Staff for Connectivity, Service, and Natural Resources at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, co-led the discussions alongside Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation and Commodity Secretary General, Dato’ Yusran Shah Bin Mohd Yusof.
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In an official statement, as reported by Palmoilmagazine.com on October 14, 2024, the two largest palm oil-producing countries presented updates on initiatives to ensure the legality and traceability of their products as per EUDR requirements. Both countries reviewed progress on five key work areas established in the previous meeting. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to enhanced cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia to promote deforestation-free products, with a shared focus on integrating smallholders into a more transparent supply chain—an optimistic goal amid ongoing challenges.
One significant output from the meeting was the plan to conduct training of trainers about EUDR intensively in Malaysia in November 2024. The program would be about to deliver practical guidelines for the smallholders in commodity sectors so they would be more prepared to face the closer EUDR. The same training would be too in Indonesia.
Besides, there would be dialogues among the private sectors in the two countries before EUDR would be officially implemented. This should get the discussion for every stakeholder to get the best solution for the industrial sustainability and the smallholders’ welfare.
The collaboration among European Union, Indonesia, and Malaysia in the meeting would be the significant symbol to fight global – scale deforestation. The synergy should confirm not only the sustainable supply chain but also open the path for the greener and more sustainable commodity trade in the future. (P2)
