Headline News on Palm Oil - October 2020

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​Read curated news that impacts the palm oil industry globally.
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CSPO Watch News. Making it easy for you to follow the palm oil industry

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Cameroon - Safacam’s palm oil sales rose YoY in H1-2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic
(Business in Cameroon) - In H1-2020, BVMAC-listed company Safacam sold 12,428 tons of palm oil, recording a turnover of XAF10.2 billion. During the same period in 2019, it sold 9,787 tons for a turnover of XAF8.7 billion.

The company explains that this rise in sales (+2,641 tons) was recorded thanks to the massive purchase made by local refiners to constitute their stocks (for fear of a total or partial confinement after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Cameroon in March 2020).​ BusinessInCameroon

Malaysia - ​Felda eyes FGV’s palm oil mills after LLA termination
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) intends to buy over FGV Holdings Bhd’s palm oil mills, following the termination of the land lease agreement (LLA) between the two parties.

At a briefing today, Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, who heads the special task force set up to address issues at Felda, said the agency will also take over FGV’s palm oil mills scattered nationwide. TheEdgeMarkets

Malaysia - ​Cabinet receives Felda’s proposal to terminate land lease with FGV
PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has received a proposal from the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to increase its core income from plantation lands by terminating its land lease agreement (LLA) with FGV.

Among the other proposals meant to bring Felda back in the black by 2023 include restructuring the state-owned palm oil agency’s debts and increasing the independence of settlers, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed said in a statement today. FreeMalaysiaToday

Malaysia - ​We’re prepared for termination of land lease by Felda, says FGV
KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd today reiterated that it has yet to receive a written notice from the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) regarding the termination of the land lease agreement (LLA), but has prepared its businesses and operations for this eventuality.

In a statement, FGV said once it receives an official notice from Felda, as required under the LLA, it will follow the procedures outlined in the LLA to start the process of termination and determining the compensation due to FGV. FreeMalaysiaToday

Cameroon - ​Cameroon: Oil Palm Production - Experts Report Malaysian Experience to CDC
Farming specialists of MINADER, CDC and WWF met in Limbe to examine prospects of raising Cameroon palm oil yields.

Palm oil from Cameroon rose from 42,500 tons in 1960 to 300,000 tons in 2015. It is projected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) at 450,000 tons in 2020.The historic, economic, social, cultural and even political importance of oil palm farming in Cameroon sparked a fact-finding expedition of Cameroonian experts to Malaysia, in March this year. Led by Dr. Yankam Njonou, Inspector General at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), the purpose of the WWF-sponsored mission was to study the Malaysian palm oil production "magic", tap lessons for Cameroon while ensuring a safer environment. AllAfrica

Malaysia - Syed Mokhtar makes his move on FGV
AFTER at least three years of speculation, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary has finally made his move on FGV Holdings Bhd.

Last week, the businessman’s vehicle Perspective Lane (M) Sdn Bhd (PLSB) sent an expression of interest to “participate in FGV via an injection of plantation assets into FGV, for share consideration”. If the deal goes through, PLSB could become the single-largest shareholder of FGV.

A source familiar with the deal tells The Edge that the two parties — FGV’s management and PLSB’s executives [as well as the executives at its main plantation arm, Tradewinds Plantation Bhd (TPB)] — will commence talks. TheEdgeMarkets

RSPO/ Darrel Lea - ​Australian firm that removed palm oil from products expelled from sustainable oil certifier
Darrell Lea, the Australian confectioner that announced it had removed palm oil from its products in the name of sustainability last month, has been kicked out of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the palm oil industry’s lead eco label.

RSPO said in a statement released on Tuesday (27 October) that the company had violated its code of conduct by making statements that advocated for a boycott of the controversial ingredient, which is found in half of supermarket products globally. EcoBusiness

China - ​Chinese biodiesel exports hit record high in September
Chinese biodiesel exports hit an all-time high of 119,000t in September, narrowly beating the previous record of 113,000t set in April, according to Global Trade Tracker.

Sales slumped to 39,000t in June as Covid-19 caused European buyers to halt or delay purchases. But restrictions were gradually lifted over the summer and cargoes started flowing again though with the second wave biting down as winter approaches, exports could start tumbling once more.​ ArgusMedia

Malaysia - ​MPOB formulates palm oil-based margarine for refrigeration, non-refrigeration
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): A group of researchers at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has successfully formulated margarine with palm oil-based structural fats suitable for refrigeration and non-refrigeration.

Lead researcher Dr Sivaruby Kanagaratnam said the margarine created by MPOB is formulated with palm-based special fats to enable the formation of oil crystal matrix for the structuring of refrigerated and non-refrigerated margarine products, making them very different in their physical and chemical characteristics. TheEdgeMarkets

Malaysia - ​We’ll pay for quarantine so long as we get our workers back, says palm oil body
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said oil palm plantation owners are willing to absorb all Covid-19 quarantine charges imposed by the government to overcome the current labour shortage, which is causing a 25% loss in palm oil yield.

“We are willing to pay for the quarantine charges and we will adhere to all the SOPs to be introduced by the government.

“But please allow all workers who went back on leave to return back here,” its chief executive Mohd Nageeb Abdul Wahab said on TV3’s Money Matters talk show.​ FreeMalaysiaToday

China/India - ​China and India demand boosts palm oil price despite EU pressure
Tokyo/ Jakarta. Palm oil prices are rising, due to recovering demand from China and India and labour shortages in producing countries as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. AsiaNikkei

Malaysia - ​Oil palm planters appeal to Sabah to lift additional restrictions of new SOP
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 24): The new standard operating procedures (SOPs) that require oil palm planters to operate at half the capacity will result in an estimated revenue lost of RM900 million a month or RM30 million a day at prevailing favourable CPO prices of close to RM3,000 per tonne, according to Malaysian Estate Owners' Association (MEOA).

This loss has not factored in palm kernel (PK) losses, said the association in a statement. TheEdgeMarkets

Brazil - ​Regulator gives Vale green light to sell Brazil's biggest palm oil producer
Brazil’s antitrust regulator Cade has given the green light to metals and mining group Vale to sell Biopalma da Amazônia, the largest producer of palm oil in the country, to Brasil Bio Fuels (BBF). BNAmericas

Brazil - Q&A: Brazil eyes alternative biodiesel feedstocks
After tight supplies of soybean oil forced Brazil to temporarily lower the biodiesel blend mandate late last year, there is a growing urgency to develop alternative feedstocks. Argus spoke to bioenergy researchers Bruno Laviola and Itania Soares at Brazil's government-controlled crop research agency Embrapa about ongoing research. ArgusMedia

Thailand’s plan to switch to biofuels as it shoves coal out of the mix
Thailand has set a target of achieving 30% of its power generation from renewables by 2036 as part of its low carbon transition plan.
The renewable growth will be led by biofuels followed by solar PV and then wind. Palm oil among others are the major potential biomass energy sources in the south-east Asian state.
Thailand’s power sector is heavily dependent on fossil fuels with 81% share in the generation mix meeting the country’s growing power demand.​ BiofuelsInternational

Indonesia - ​Nearly a third of Indonesia forest fires fall in pulp, palm areas -Greenpeace
SINGAPORE, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Forested areas greater than the size of the Netherlands have been burned in Indonesia in the past five years, with 30% of the fires occurring on pulpwood and palm oil concessions, environmental group Greenpeace said on Thursday.

Greenpeace said analysis of official data showed 4.4 million hectares (10.8 million acres) of land burned over 2015 to 2019, with 1.3 million hectares of that lying in the concession areas. Reuters

Malaysia Says Allegations of Forced Labour in Palm Plantations Is 'Old Issue'
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Thursday it viewed U.S. allegations of forced labour in palm oil plantations as an “old issue” but it was willing to take appropriate action if needed.

Last month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) banned the imports of palm products from FGV Holdings on suspicion of forced labour in its manufacturing process, and Malaysia said it anticipated another plantation firm could be banned as well.

In a statement on Thursday, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the country had already halted the recruitment of new foreign workers.​ Reuters

Malaysia - ​Ministry to improve productivity, yield of palm oil industry
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) is committed to improving the productivity and yield of the palm oil industry instead of expanding lands for the commodity.

Its secretary-general Ravi Muthayah said today during the virtual International Palm Oil Sustainable Conference 2020 that the government has put in place several new policies for sustainable cultivation of palm oil.

“The policy capping the total oil palm cultivated area to 6.5 million hectares and to ban the conversion of permanent forest reserve area for oil palm cultivation is aimed to ensure the sustainability of the industry. MalayMail

Japan - ​Japan's Erex taps Indonesian PKS export business
Japanese renewable power producer Erex is planning to start exporting palm kernel shells (PKS) through a tie-up with a local company. This is aimed to ensure stable supply of the fuel, ahead of the start-up of its new PKS-fired power plants in Japan.

Erex established joint venture Dharma Sumber Energi with Indonesian PKS supplier Dharma Energi Investama (DEI) earlier this month. The new firm, of which Erex owns 33pc through its subsidiary Erex Singapore, plans to start stockpiling in December and to begin exports in September 2021.​ ArgusMedia

Japan - ​Japan promises to diversify supply chains across ASEAN
HANOI -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Monday to help Japanese companies diversify their supply chains across Southeast Asia, making a case for tighter economic cooperation to countries wary of China's growing influence in the region.

"Japan will further strengthen cooperation with ASEAN to increase the resilience of supply chains and build economies in Asia that are resilient to crises," Suga said in a speech at Vietnam-Japan University here, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.​ AsiaNikkei

Malaysia - ​FGV clarifies land lease deal with Felda
KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd has issued a clarification about the land lease agreement (LLA) between FELDA and FGV.

It issued the statement on Tuesday following recent news reports about FELDA and the terms of the LLA where it said the termination of the LLA was allowed.

FGV also maintained the assets involved in the LLA are estates and do not include FGV’s oil palm mills.​ TheStar

Liberia - ​GVL Remains Committed to its Goal of Reducing Rural Poverty
Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL) and the Government of Liberia in 2010 signed a Concession Agreement to develop palm oil plantations on 220,000 hectares of land in South-Eastern Liberia.  Based on its development plan, GVL should have developed 80,000 hectares of oil palm by now, but to date, only about 19,000 hectares have been developed due to unforeseen challenges including several stoppages because of complaints by some groups.

Despite the persistent challenges, GVL remains committed in fulling the agreement and its goal of reducing rural poverty, particular in operational area.​ LiberianObserver

Mars Inc. (Interview) - ​Mars CEO Grant Reid Wants Candy to Lift One Million People Out of Poverty. Here’s His Plan to Make It Happen
Many candy lovers (at least this one) aren’t aware that chomping into a Milky Way bar may make one complicit in child-labor law violations and deforestation. The commodities that go into candy and gum—cocoa, mint and palm oil—are produced by some of the most impoverished people in the world, living in some of the world’s most environmentally vulnerable areas. TIME

Indonesia - JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - As much as 35% of Indonesia's land territory consists of areas lying within the country's primary forest and peatland permanent moratorium map. This map covers over 66 million hectares, equivalent to more than 1.7 times the area of ​​Norway, twice the size of the ​​UK, or larger than ​​France. 

Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya reaffirmed this in an open letter (Oct 15) addressing the concerns of global investors with regard to the newly-passed job creation bill, in which the permanent moratorium map remains one of the government’s long-term policy tools. Foresthints

China - (Opinion)Beijing on friendship drive in South China Sea after US flexes muscles
New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS): Rattled by the strengthened US naval presence in the region, China has gone in for a fresh round of gunboat diplomacy with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as it sees these nations looking at Washington for support to keep the dragon at bay.

The recent meeting in Tokyo of foreign ministers of the Indo-Pacific quad countries comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia also seems to have been factored into China's stepped up diplomatic drive with Foreign Minister Wang Yi undertaking a whirlwind tour to the ASEAN neighbours. DaijiWorld

Nigeria - Presco forecasts N6.994b profit for full year 2020
​ Presco Plc, a Benin City based fully-integrated agro-industrial establishment with oil palm plantations, palm oil mill, palm kernel crushing plant and vegetable oil refining and fractionation plant has released the forecast of its performance for the fourth quarter 2020 with a projection to record a turnover N24.526 billion in the full year and profit after tax of N6.994 billion

The forecast is expecting cash/bank balance at the end of the year to drop to -N1.158 billion from -N3.679 billion at the end beginning of the year. WorldStageGroup

Malaysia - ​FGV expands bulking facility to cater to market demand
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — FGV Holdings Bhd has expanded its bulking facility by adding six new vegetable oil storage tanks to cater for increasing market demand and to fulfil the government’s B20 biodiesel mandate for the transport sector.

FGV group chief executive officer Datuk Haris Fadzilah Hassan said the additional tanks attested to the team’s expertise in handling edible and non-edible vegetable oil products.​ MalayMail

Malaysia - FGV says US agency won’t provide info on allegations behind palm oil ban
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) contacted the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency for details on the claims that led to an effective import ban on the firm’s palm oil products there but did not receive any.

FGV said the CBP would not reveal any information beyond saying its review found 11 global indicators of forced labour practices within the Malaysian firm’s operations.

The US agency declined to disclose what these were specifically or where they were allegedly committed, FGV added. MalayMail

Malaysia/US - ​US Customs to consider petition, audit to lift import ban on Malaysian palm oil producer FGV
KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - The US Customs has told Malaysia's FGV Holdings it would consider a petition to revoke an import ban on the company's palm oil products if it can provide credible evidence that it does not use forced labour, FGV said on Thursday (Oct 15).

The world's largest crude palm oil producer said in a bourse filing the petition would need to include reports from unbiased, third-party auditing firms, and it was talking to several independent organisations about an audit of its operations. TheStraitsTimes

Malaysia - Malaysia Tycoon Seeks Stake in Major Palm Oil Producer, and Stock Jumps
(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary is seeking to combine his plantation assets with FGV Holdings Bhd. in a potential merger aimed at securing a stake in one of Malaysia’s biggest palm oil producers. FGV shares rallied. Perspective Land (M) Sdn., owned by Syed Mokhtar, intends to “inject” its plantation assets into FGV, according to a filing from FGV late Thursday. 

The closely-held company would potentially become the single largest shareholder in the latter if the transaction comes to fruition, it said. Bloomberg

UK - N​ew coalition calls on Government to act on negative emissions technologies
A letter has been sent to the Chancellor from a new coalition including the CBI, Velocys and Drax calling on the government to adopt a clear commitment to greenhouse gas removal and negative emissions technologies.

The letter from the Coalition for Negative Emissions to Rishi Sunak describes how the new group aims to develop pioneering projects that can remove CO2 and other pollutants from the atmosphere.

The letter said: “Together, we represent hundreds of thousands of workers across some of the UK’s most critical industries, including aviation, energy and farming, each of which contribute billions of pounds each year to the economy. BiofuelsNews

Gabon - ​Olam Palm to Produce Biofuel in Gabon
Singapore-based Olam’s local subsidiary Olam Palm has obtained approval for the development of a biofuel production project in Gabon.

The Ministry of Economy of Gabon said that the biofuel produced by Olam’s plant will not replace oil, responsible for over 80% of Gabon revenue, however biofuel production is in line with the national economic diversification plan implemented by the government and supported by various international development institutions.

“The production of biofuel, less polluting, will increase the competitiveness of our local palm oil sector, thus materializing our vision in favor of the protection of the environment and the fight against climate change,” H.E. Biendi Maganga-Moussavou, Minister of Agriculture of Gabon said last week.​ Africaoilandpower

Malaysia - MPOA: Palm oil industry's reputation a top concern for Malaysia​KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 11): While the export of Malaysian palm oil to the United States is of an insignificant amount, the effect from the US' move to ban FGV Holdings Bhd's palm oil and palm oil products on the industry's reputation is of concern to Malaysia.
Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive officer Datuk Nageeb Wahab said the ban has affected some of the local companies, especially FGV.

"What we are more concerned about is the damage to the country's and the company's reputation.

"We view America and North America as a big potential market for expansion, that is why we are concerned about with what is happening today," he said on TV3's Money Matters talk show yesterday. TheEdgeMarkets

Indonesia - ​UK Due Diligence Consultation: Indonesia Responds
This week, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) submitted a formal response to the UK Government’s consultation on the planned Due Diligence regulation.

In the official submission, the Indonesian palm oil community raises core principles that the UK Government must consider when drafting its Due Diligence regulation. Considering the importance of the palm oil community to Indonesia, and the wider ASEAN, the UK should firstly ensure no discrimination against Indonesian palm oil; the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standard should be recognised; and the UK’s Due Diligence regulation should not infringe Indonesia’s sovereignty. These are some of the key points set out by the Indonesian Palm Oil Association. 
Read press release from GAPKI
Read  UK DD GAPKI Consultation Response

Liberia - ​MOA STAR-P Distributes Oil Palm Seedlings to Smallholder Farmers
The COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on agriculture, food security, and livelihood of Liberians.

To mitigate the effect of the virus, particularly on the lives of smallholder farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture through its Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR–P) project has begun implementing its emergency response plans to smallholder farmers. LiberianObserver

Nigeria - ​Palm Producers Express Readiness To Boost Economy
In a bid to broaden the system of production, distribution and consumption in the nation without relying solely on petroleum, young palm producers and farmers under the aegis of National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) have disclosed preparedness to play their part in boosting Nigerian economy.

The union national assistant general secretary, Mr Victor Nya Atu, disclosed this in Abakaliki during the NPPAN Ebonyi State chapter election. TribuneOnlineNG

Malaysia - ​FGV spends RM350mil to build and upgrade housing facilities for workers
KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) has invested RM350 million in the past three years to build and upgrade housing facilities for its plantation workers nationwide.

The crude palm oil (CPO) producer said the investment was made as part of its commitment to fulfilling the rights of workers to adequate housing.

So far, FGV had completed 27 projects in Kuantan, Bera, Muadzam, Temerloh and Kuala Lipis in Pahang; Semaring in Terengganu; Gua Musang in Kelantan; Trolak in Perak, Serting in Negeri Sembilan, Sampadi and Miri in Sarawak as well as Sahabat and Kalabakan in Sabah. NewStraitsTimes

Malaysia - ​Palm oil board: Only 25.5% of smallholders have MPSO cert
KUALA LUMPUR: Only 25.5% of the 250,000 independent oil palm smallholders have obtained the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said.

Its deputy director-general of services Dr Ramle Moslim called on over 150,000 independent oil palm smallholders nationwide who have yet to register for the certification to do so.

He said the MSPO certificate was very important as it would enable them to meet the conditions on the commodity stipulated by developed countries, especially in Europe. TheSunDaily

USA - ​Palm Done Right and Spinster Sisters Announce Partnership
Boulder, CO—Natural Habitats, creator of the educational platform Palm Done Right announced it will partner with Spinster Sisters. The two companies will work with retailers and brands to educate consumers about producing palm oil that is 100% organic, deforestation-free, wildlife friendly, fair & social. WholeFoodsMagazine

India - ​Festive Food Craving Set to Boost Indian Demand for Palm Oil
(Bloomberg) -- Palm oil purchases by India, the biggest importer, are likely to climb in October from a three-month low as the Hindu festival of lights drives up demand for the world’s most-consumed vegetable oil. Inbound shipments could rise to as much as 725,000 tons this month as traders and refiners replenish stockpiles to meet rising demand, according to G.G. Patel, managing partner of GGN R. Bloomberg

India - ​Focus on palm oil sector: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu to Agric officials
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has stressed the need to expedite projects connected with the Palm Oil sector across the State. He emphasised during a detailed discussion on the subject with Agriculture department officials including the Secretary of the Department. This Central government scheme has been launched in the State under the 'National Food Security Mission'. In fact, he called for successful implementation of all the Centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) across the State. SentinelAssam

India - Oil palm getting popular in coastal districts
Vijayawada: With high returns and growing demand for the palm oil in the domestic and international market, oil palm cultivated area doubled in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh during the last 10 years. More than 1.3 lakh farmers are cultivating oil palm and it became one of the important crops in coastal districts particularly the East and West Godavari. TheHansIndia

Indonesia/Malaysia - Press Release – The 20th Senior Officials Meeting of CPOPC
The Senior Officials Meeting Leaders responsible for the palm oil industry, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, and the Secretary General Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) of Malaysia, Mr. Ravi Muthayah co-chaired the 20th Senior Officials Meeting of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) on 7 October 2020 in a virtual meeting. The government representatives of the palm oil producing countries in transition to full members of CPOPC were in the attendance namely the Vice Minister of Agriculture of Colombia, Mr Juan Gonzalo Botero, High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Malaysia H.E. Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora, and Vice Minister of Agricultural, Ministry of Agricultural and Livestock of Honduras, Mr. Ing. David Ernesto Wainwright. Members of delegations representing relevant government institutions and stakeholders of the five palm oil producing countries also attended the meeting. CPOPC

Malaysia - Malaysian palm oil at a crossroads
Malaysia’s freeze on cross-border hiring in response to Covid-19 has left oil palm estates grappling with a lack of hands during their peak harvesting season, and at a potential turning point in the industry’s labour dynamics.

When Kuala Lumpur announced in June a halt to recruitment of foreign nationals until the end of 2020, plantations were quick to seek an exemption. Malaysia’s palm oil board (MPOB) warned the industry could lose billions of ringgit in revenue and up to 25pc in output from last year’s 19.9mn t. ArgusMedia

Malaysia - Mars achieves 'deforestation-free' palm oil - what about the rest?
KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Chocolate maker Mars needs to help more palm oil producers become sustainable rather than ditching those that do not meet its standards, environmentalists said, after the confectionery giant announced it had secured “deforestation-free” supplies.

The maker of M&Ms and Snickers said this week it had simplified and reduced the number of suppliers it buys from, ensuring the palm oil in its products does not harm forests. Reuters

Nigeria - Edo govt presents digital C of Os to oil palm investors
Obaseki issues executive waiver to admit N-Power beneficiary into EdoSTAR teaching programme
The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), yesterday, presented copies of digitally generated Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) to investors under the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), on the back of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s agricultural reforms.

Managing Director of EdoGIS, Francis Evbuomwan, who presented the C of Os to the investors in Benin City, reassured that the Obaseki administration would continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state. GuardianNG

MARS INC (Press information) Mars Says Its M&Ms Are No Longer Contributing to Deforestation
Mars Inc., the maker of Snickers and Dove candy, is trimming the ranks of its palm-oil suppliers and says it has now eliminated those that can't commit to preventing deforestation.

The company said on Tuesday that it has reached the point where its palm-oil use is no longer contributing to the clearing of tropical forests -- a practice that's a major contributor to global warming. With fewer suppliers, Mars said it's easier to verify that the providers are meeting environmental and ethical goals. NewStraitsTimes

FCMG - Palm oil growers, traders show slow progress towards sustainability while retailers lead the way
Consumer-facing firms such as Unilever, PepsiCo and IKEA have moved quicker towards ethical palm oil than growers and traders, a new report has found. More needs to be done outside of lead eco-certifier RSPO to drive the industry towards sustainability, the report's authors say.
The week after one of the world’s biggest palm oil producers was blocked from the United States because of alleged human rights infringements, a report has revealed patchy progress towards sustainable practices made by the palm oil industry. EcoBusiness

Malaysia - FGV facing ‘minimal effect’ from US detention order
PETALING JAYA: FGV Holdings Bhd may lose its prospective revenue and customers from the United States market if the recent detention order by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the planter’s palm oil products is prolonged. The US market constitutes about 4%-5% of the FGV Group’s total revenue.

This is the worst-case scenario envisaged by BIMB Securities in its latest report yesterday.

On Sept 30, the US CBP put a withhold release order (WRO) on palm oil and palm oil products by FGV’s subsidiaries and joint-ventures (JV), following the indication on the use of forced labour in its plantations. TheStarMY

Malaysia - MPOB to provide joint study with ILO on Malaysia's labour situation to US
KUALA LUMPUR: A study on the labour situation in the country's oil palm sector is expected to be announced soon after the Cabinet approval, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said.

MPOB director-general Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam said the joint study with the International Labor Organisation (ILO) would be sent to the US.

This will be in response to the US Customs and Border Protection's ban on imports of palm oil and palm oil products from state-owned FGV Holdings Bhd over allegations of use of forced labour. NewStraitsTimes

Malaysia - ‘We demand equality’: Malaysian palm oil boss calls for sector’s fair treatment alongside other edible oils

The palm oil sector is demanding fair and equal treatment after years of being subjected to ‘unjust’ treatment and criticism, despite ‘doing more for sustainability’ compared to other edible oils in the industry. FoodNavigatorAsia

Malaysia - No basis for us CBP's action to restrict Malaysian palm oil imports - Felda settlers
KOTA TINGGI, Oct 2  -- Malaysian oil palm settlers believe that the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) move to impose a Withhold Release Order on palm oil and palm oil products by FGV Holdings Bhd to be a malicious act which is based on unfounded allegations.

Most Felda Air Tawar 2 settlers met by Bernama here today, expressed their surprise and frustration over the move, and also denied the allegation of forced labour involving foreign workers and children. Bernama

UK - ‘Even plant-based foods result in the death or the destruction of life’
Following this week’s media coverage of supermarket giants Tesco and Asda’s intentions to substantially grow their ranges of plant-based foods, the National Sheep Association (NSA) is questioning the retailer’s motives and disputing the sustainability claims being used in their reasoning.

As Tesco announced plans to grow the sales of plant-based meat alternatives by 300% over the next five years and Asda revealed plans to feature dedicated vegan aisles in many of its stores, the NSA is reminding consumers that there is often more to the environmental message that is used to promote such moves. Agriland

UK - U.K. Supermarkets Want Tougher Regulations To Stop Deforestation
(Bloomberg) -- Dozens of the U.K.’s biggest supermarkets, fast food chains and food manufacturers have urged the government to go further with rules that would ban them from selling products linked to illegal deforestation.

McDonald’s Corp., Tesco Plc and Nestle SA are among 21 companies that have written to the U.K. government over proposals that will ban large businesses operating in the U.K. from selling beef, soy and other key commodities sourced from illegally deforested land.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is consulting on plans to require companies to show that commodities sourced in their supply chains, including soy, cocoa and palm oil, complied with local environmental laws when being produced. Bloomberg

UK - Food companies urge Britain to adopt tougher rules to protect tropical forests
LONDON (Reuters) - Supermarkets, food manufacturers and restaurant chains under pressure from campaigners over their environmental impact urged Britain on Monday to strengthen a plan to stop tropical forests from being cut down to grow cocoa, palm oil and soy.

With the food industry under growing scrutiny for its role in driving deforestation in countries such as Brazil and Indonesia, Britain is drawing up legislation to force the sector to tighten oversight of its supply chains.

In an open letter, some 20 large companies welcomed the plans as a “step forward” but said “it’s not currently envisioned to be enough to halt deforestation and we encourage the government to go further to ... address this issue.” Reuters

UK - McDonald's among food firms urging tougher deforestation rules
Food firms in the UK including McDonald's are urging the government to toughen up rules designed to protect rainforests.

Ministers are planning a new law forbidding big firms to use produce from illegally deforested land.

But the firms say the law should apply to all deforestation, whether it's legal or illegal.

That's because the effect on the climate, and on nature, is the same if trees are felled legally or not.

The firms have written a letter to the government on the closing day of its consultation on forest protection. BBC

Indonesia - US' Malaysia palm oil sanctions worry Indonesian firms
Indonesian palm oil sector concerned by US sanctions on alleged labor abuse by Malaysian firms will affect them as well.
Indonesia's palm oil sector said on Friday that US sanctions on Malaysian palm oil firms had damaged the image of the palm oil industry.

"The sanctions put by the US Customs and Border Protection Office CBP against Malaysian FGV Holdings Berhad regarding forced labor allegations remain unclear. There should be a formal notice from the US government regarding this issue," the head of the Association of Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs (GAPKI), Kanya Lakshmi Sidarta, told Anadolu Agency. AnadoluAgency

Malaysia - Palm Oil Farmers Say U.S. Ban to Hurt More Than 32,000 Planters
Malaysia’s palm oil planters condemned the U.S. block on imports of FGV Holdings Bhd. products, saying the move will affect more than 32,000 farmers.

The National Association of Smallholders Malaysia called the ban a “reckless act” and said it will worsen the commodity’s reputation as it’s also facing anti-palm oil campaigns in Europe. The group said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s accusation that FGV uses forced labor is unfounded, as most workers operate their own farms. Bloomberg

Malaysia - Sime Darby Plantation says any potential US import ban a concern, has responded to forced labour claims
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 2): Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) said it is concerned over any possible import ban imposed by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), given that the country is an important growing market for its products.

In a statement, the group said this is despite the fact that its annual exports to the US are currently a “modest sum of approximately US$5 million (RM20.8 million)”.

SDP was responding to media reports identifying the palm oil giant as the next subject of a Withhold Release Order by the CBP after products of FGV Holdings Bhd were prohibited from entering the US following investigations into alleged use of forced labour.

Malaysia - Govt working on lifting US restrictions on palm oil, says minister
PETALING JAYA: Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali says his ministry is working to ensure the country’s agricultural products are free of restrictions.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) yesterday said it would detain palm oil and palm oil products made by FGV Holdings Berhad effective today following allegations of forced and child labour.

In a statement today, Khairuddin said the plantation industries and commodities ministry had presented a study on the labour situation in the country’s oil palm plantations to the Cabinet on July 24. FreeMalaysiaToday

EU - Binding legislation needed to stop EU-driven global deforestation, say MEPs
MEPs call on the Commission to put forward rules to stop EU-driven global deforestation through mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market.

Currently, there is no EU legislation prohibiting products that contribute to the destruction of forests from being placed on the European market and consumers do not know whether or not the products they buy contribute to deforestation. EuropeanSting

Indonesia - Two years on, ban on new palm oil plantations brings little change
It has been over two years since the government set a moratorium on new palm oil development, but environmentalists say the move has failed to bring about much-needed change in the governance of the lucrative export commodity. A coalition of civil society groups said recently that the plantation ban had not resulted in significant improvements in the sustainability of the palm oil business or its impact on the environment. TheJakartaPost

​Malaysia - Malaysia's FGV says disappointed with U.S. ban on palm oil products
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil producer FGV Holdings Bhd said on Thursday it was disappointed with a move by the United States to ban the imports of its products over allegations of forced labour when it has taken steps to fix the issue.

“FGV is disappointed that such decision has been made when FGV has been taking concrete steps over the past several years in demonstrating its commitment to respect human rights and to uphold labour standards,” the company said in a statement.

The company said it will continue to engage with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which issued the ban, to clear its name. Reuters

​Malaysia - US restricts palm oil imports from Malaysia over alleged forced labor abuses
US Customs and Border Protection will block imports of palm oil and palm oil products from Malaysia in the latest move by the agency targeting overseas forced labor practices.

The restrictions, which went into effect on Wednesday, take aim at all palm oil produced by FGV Holdings Berhad, a Malaysian-based agricultural company, and come after a yearlong CBP investigation into labor abuses.
CBP uncovered indicators of forced labor including physical and sexual violence, debt bondage, retention of identification documents and withholding of wages, said Brenda Smith, executive assistant commissioner of CBP's Office of Trade. CNN