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Malaysia palm oil, rubber farmers file EU petition opposing deforestation law

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Summary

A group of Malaysian palm oil and rubber smallholders filed a petition to the European Union (EU) to protest against a new law that would prevent imports into the bloc of commodities linked to deforestation risks. The smallholders are concerned about the burden this law would place on them, and the potential of Malaysia being labeled as a high-risk country for deforestation in the regulation. The EU delegation in Kuala Lumpur has met with the smallholder representatives and has said they are willing to support them on their path to sustainability.

Q&As

What is the petition filed by Malaysian palm oil and rubber smallholders to the EU in protest of the new law preventing imports into the bloc of commodities linked to deforestation risks?
The petition filed by Malaysian palm oil and rubber smallholders to the EU is to protest against a new law preventing imports into the bloc of commodities linked to deforestation risks.

How much money is Malaysia's Commodities Ministry planning to spend in 2023 to counter what they call an anti-palm oil campaign?
Malaysia's Commodities Ministry is planning to spend 10 million ringgit ($2.23 million) in 2023 to counter what they call an anti-palm oil campaign, and is seeking an additional 10 million ringgit.

How much of Malaysia's oil palm planted area is accounted for by smallholders?
Smallholders account for 26%, or around 1.5 million hectares of oil palm planted area in Malaysia.

What are the smallholder groups concerned about with the EU rule?
The smallholder groups are concerned about the potential labelling of Malaysia as a high-risk country for deforestation in the regulation and the burden the EU rule places on smallholders which threatens their livelihoods.

What did the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Malaysia state about Malaysia's systems to ensure non-deforestation and traceability?
The Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Malaysia stated that Malaysia has already in place systems to ensure non-deforestation and traceability, so they do not expect any extra costs for smallholders.

AI Comments

👍 Malaysia palm oil and rubber smallholders are taking an admirable step in filing a petition to the European Union to protect their livelihoods. It is encouraging to see that the EU delegation is taking the concerns of smallholders seriously and is willing to support them on their path to sustainability.

👎 The new EU law preventing imports into the bloc of commodities linked to deforestation risks is unfair and will be damaging to smallholders who rely on palm oil for a living. The regulation's unrealistic demands will make it difficult for small farmers to access the European market.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about Malaysian palm oil and rubber smallholders filing a petition to the European Union protesting against a law designed to prevent imports of commodities linked to deforestation risks. They're worried that it will prevent them from accessing the European market and threaten their livelihoods.

Friend: Wow, that's a lot to take in. What do you think the implications of this could be?

Me: Well, it could mean that smallholders in Malaysia who depend on palm oil and rubber for their livelihoods may not be able to access the European market. This could have a negative impact on their income and livelihoods. It could also lead to a lack of investment in sustainable practices in the palm oil and rubber industries in Malaysia. Additionally, Malaysia could be labeled as a high-risk country for deforestation, which could be damaging to the country's reputation.

Action items

Research the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standards and how they are being implemented.
Reach out to the EU Delegation to Malaysia to learn more about their plans to support smallholders.
Contact the smallholder associations mentioned in the article to learn more about their petition and how to support their efforts.

Technical terms

Commodities: A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type. Examples of commodities include grains, metals, oil, and other agricultural products.
Deforestation: Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses.
Traceability: Traceability is the ability to trace the history, application, or location of an item or activity by means of recorded identification.
Geolocation: Geolocation is the process of determining the physical location of a person or object using digital information.
Due Diligence: Due diligence is the process of gathering and analyzing information about a company or organization to assess its suitability for investment.
Sustainability: Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.