The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has applauded the Dutch Product Board for Margarine, Fats and Oils’ (MVO) call for the European Union (EU) to abolish the import duty on RSPO’s certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) from Malaysia and Indonesia.
The EU is currently charging a 3.8% duty on crude palm oil imported into Europe.
The MVO on behalf of the Dutch oils and fats sector believes that abolishing the EU import duty on sustainable palm oil would offset the additional costs to produce CSPO and also, remove a significant barrier to its market uptake in Europe.
RSPO secretary-general Darrel Webber said in a statement that the RSPO looked forward to future opportunities for dialogue and cooperation with the EU decision-makers on the proposal by MVO.
“The Dutch initiative once again places the Netherlands, the largest palm oil importer and processor in Europe, at the forefront of spearheading market transformation towards sustainable palm oil.
“The RSPO supports the MVO’s resolution aimed at stimulating demand for sustainable palm oil,” he said.
