MEPs vote to clampdown on imports of palm oil for biofuel

10th April 2017

MEPs voted to ban the use of palm oil in biofuels to counter the unsustainable use of palm oil production. The resolution was approved by 640 votes to 18. 28 politicians abstained from voting.

In the resolution, MEPS have called for a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the EU market and phase out the use of vegetable oils by 2020.

It is hoped that it would reduce deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in South-East Asia.

46% of all palm oil imported into the EU produces biofuel. Around one million hectares of tropical soils are destroyed to produce this amount of palm oil.

While various voluntary certification schemes currently promote the sustainable cultivation of palm oil, their standards, according to MEPs, are open to criticism and are confusing for consumers. They believe a single certification scheme would guarantee only sustainably produced palm oil enters the EU market.

They hope the Commission “improves the traceability of palm oil imported into the EU” and cites the production of palm oil’s role in damaging human rights in other countries. Adequate social standards are diminished, children are exploited for labour, and land conflicts occur between communities and palm oil businesses.

Indonesia have called the single certification scheme discriminative, based on inaccurate data and fear it will create barriers to trade.

In February, Ireland came under attack from “Palm Oil Fatbergs.” Lumps of palm oil, some as big as boulders, washed up along the North Coast of Dublin.

The phenomenon caused such a problem that Fingal County Council deemed it necessary to issue a press release warning people of their dangers especially to dogs.

Reddit user Mr Flow

Companies have come under fire for their use of palm oil in their products. In 2015, a parody advertisement of Doritios highlighted the use of palm oil by its parent company, PepsiCo. Nutella have also been criticised for using a large amount of palm oil.

In 2016, the WWF published a scorecard to expose which companies failed to keep their promises on eliminating or reducing their use of palm oil in their products.

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About the Author

Eric Maher

Eric Maher is a contributor to the Green News. He has a Masters in Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama from UCD.