PUTRAJAYA, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and France will hold joint dialogues and engagements for better understanding of the palm oil industry. The French Parliament recently voted to exclude palm oil as biodiesel feedstock and to end tax incentives for palm oil as of 2020.
Minister of Primary Industries, Malaysia, YB Teresa Kok who received a courtesy call from French Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Frederic Laplanche at her office here on Monday (Feb 18 2019), said they discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation and dialogues on palm oil, as well as engagements between lawmakers from both countries.
“We hope this will further address many questions related to palm oil production and sustainability among French lawmakers and its consumers,” said YB Teresa.
Both the Parliamentary Friendship Group set up between French and Malaysian Parliamentarians in 2018 with focus on bilateral cooperation, and the Malaysia - France Business Council meeting in March will discuss at length various palm oil related matters.
H.E. Frederic Laplanche also informed that French Environment Ambassador, H.E. Wehrling Yann, plans to visit Malaysia for a first-hand exposure on Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil practices and conservation efforts.
H.E. Laplanche proposed to take advantage of Yann’s visit, slated for April, to hold the Malaysia-France Joint Committee on Palm Oil Cooperation meeting to promote a dialogue on palm oil, as well as to include visits to oil palm plantations and wildlife conservation sites in the country as part of Yann’s itinerary.
He also informed that to address negative perception among French consumers towards palm oil, the Embassy is coordinating a programme involving the Institute of Higher Studies for Science and Technology in France focusing on infrastructure development, higher education and the palm oil industry. The programme will be participated by academicians, private sector and government officials from both sides, and its outcomes will be tabled in the French Parliament.
YB Teresa and H.E. Laplanche also discussed the French National Assembly’s move to amend its 2019 Budget on 19 December 2018 to exclude the use of palm oil as biodiesel feedstock and end fiscal incentives for palm oil from 1 January 2020. H.E. Laplanche informed that this will be adopted as law in France.
Last month, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sent a protest letter and asked French President Emmanuel Macron to reject the French National Assembly’s move, adding that it could lead to “regrettable (bilateral) economic and trade consequences".
“The move has upset Malaysia as it is seen as a de facto ban because the removal of the fiscal incentive would increase palm oil price and create a disincentive for its continued use as raw material for renewable energy.
“The French National Assembly also decided to treat palm oil biofuel as regular fuel and not green fuel, despite the assurance of the French Government earlier in January 2018 that it would not discriminate palm oil,” said YB Teresa.
H.E. Laplanche pointed out that the French Government was not against palm oil and that it had approved a bio-refinery owned by France’s Total Oil group with an anticipated utilisation of 350,000 metric tonnes of palm oil per annum.
He also opined that more research on the benefits of palm oil should be publicised as there appeared to be more negative findings on palm oil being circulated that are influencing public perception in Europe.
H.E. Laplanche also said French President Emmanuel Macron will soon respond to the letter written by Tun Dr. Mahathir.
MINISTRY OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MALAYSIA
PUTRAJAYASOURCE: Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : KARTINA BINTI HAMZAH
Corporate Communication Unit
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
Tel: 03-88878236 / 016-483 6753
Fax: 03-8887 8205
Email: kartina@mpic.gov.my --BERNAMA 
