PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The regulation designed by the European Union (EU) to establish a comprehensive inspection obligation for a number of plantation and forestry commodities, the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) is considered a challenge that has the potential to harm plantation and forestry commodities in Indonesia, including oil palm, and reduce Indonesia’s efforts and commitments in addressing issues related to climate change and biodiversity protection in accordance with multilateral agreements, treaties and conventions.
In response to this situation, Indonesia has been one of the most vocal countries in voicing concerns and disagreements with the EU regarding discriminatory actions against palm oil through the EUDR. In addition, Indonesia together with Malaysia and the EU have agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force on the EUDR to address various issues related to the implementation of the EUDR faced by Indonesia and Malaysia. The task force aims to identify the best solutions and solutions related to the implementation of EUDR.
“The implementation of EUDR will clearly harm our very important plantation and forestry commodities, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, wood products, and palm oil,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in a meeting with representatives of Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations in Brussels, Belgium, at the end of May last year.
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In line with the rejection by Indonesia and Malaysia, a report through mypalmoilpolicy.com mentioned that bipartisan groups of Republicans and Democrats have also highlighted the EUDR policy which is considered unfair to farmers who will enter the European market. In addition, delaying the implementation or changing the EUDR regulation is also considered as one of the solutions that can be done at this time.
In addition, objections to the EUDR policy are also supported by the views of EU Agriculture Ministers. In addition, as many as 20 out of 27 Ministers also called for the postponement of EUDR in the Agriculture Fisheries Council Configuration (AGRIFISH) Council Meeting held recently.
“America is bipartisan against EUDR, so EUDR initiated by Indonesia in a joint visit between the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, continues to get support from like-minded countries, some time ago both Republicans and Democrats also questioned EUDR. So like-minded countries are inspired by what Indonesia and Malaysia are doing,” Airlangga said in a session at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Office, quoted by Palmoilmagazine from the Ministry’s website, Wednesday (24/04).
In addition, the EUDR policy, which has been highlighted by the New York Times and Financial Times, is also expected to have an impact in the form of potential problems with sustainable supply chains, prices, and consumer preferences, as well as impacts on farmers and exporting countries. With these potential impacts, a number of food and commodity producers are hoping for a more measured approach.
In addition, the main agricultural association in the European Union, Copa Cogeca, has also proposed a delay in the implementation of the EUDR policy as it is deemed not feasible to implement, given that a better framework cannot be prepared in sufficient time until the implementation deadline of the EUDR policy.
In addition to the concerns and criticisms expressed by the United States and the European Agricultural Association against the EUDR policy, concerns have also been expressed by various other countries such as India and Brazil, as well as several other countries that have expressed serious concerns about the consequences of the implementation of the EUDR policy. (P3)
