Bisnis Indonesia, 19 November 2018
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in Geneva Hasan Kleib in a press release circulated on Sunday (November 18) said that the Indonesian delegates to the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee meeting in Geneva in November 14 had expressed their disagreement with two European Union (EU) policies, namely Amendment Renewable Energy Directive 2009/20/EC (RED II) and palm oil free label on various consumer products by private companies in the EU. Both policies are hampering access of Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives, he said.
Malaysia, Honduras, Colombia, and Thailand were supporting Indonesia’s attempt to report EU’s policies to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Meanwhile, Indonesian Palm Oil Association Trade and Sustainability Deputy Chair Togar Sitanggang said the palm oil free label was reducing CPO consumption in Europe.