KUALA LUMPUR: The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) will make another approach to Thailand to join it once the country has sorted its post-election governmental structure.
CPOPC deputy secretary general Datuk Mohamad Nageeb Ahmad Abdul Wahab said the council has approached Thailand through its embassies in Malaysia and Indonesia to invite the country to become a member.
"In view of the election until today, the prime minister has not been officially elected, we have to hold back for a while.
"They have mentioned that they will consider the request to come on board of the council and indicated their willingness to talk to us," he told the media during the 10th International Planters Conference 2023 (IPC 2023) today.
Mohamad said during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's visit to Thailand in February this year, the previous prime minister of Thailand had agreed to join the council, before its general election last month.
"Once the government has been appointed, we will make another approach to them," he added.
On new members, Mohamad said Honduras had recently joined the council as a full member and Papua New Guinea and Colombia were set to join the council soon.
CPOPC is also seeking to have African countries like Ghana and Nigeria to join the council as observer country.
He said when countries like Thailand and Papua New Guinea join the council, it will gather about 93 per cent of world palm oil producing countries.
Mohamad Nageeb said in terms of timeline, the countries were expected to join the council within one year, after rectifying its charter a year ago.
He is optimistic that the countries will come on board eventually, although it may be slightly delayed due to each country's processes which includes legislative process.
On the recent Malaysia-Indonesia joint trade mission to the European Union (EU) last month, he said it was meant to raise the concerns and objections after the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
"Now the implementation of the process is 18 months away, and we want them to talk, engage and collaborate with us. We want the smallholders to be included and recognise our certification system," he said.
Malaysian Palm Oil Council chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen said overall, the mission was a constructive and positive mission that facilitated the process making clear the industry standpoint.
"With engagement and the ability of Malaysia to demonstrate what has been done is of immense importance and the same applies to Indonesia," he added.
Bek-Nielsen, who is also United Plantation vice-chairman and chief executive director, said in the last three years, the net mature area for the palm oil in Malaysia has come down, which shows very clearly with data that Malaysia has taken sustainability very clearly.
"Malaysia has taken the impact of deforestation very seriously and wants to do more, which is a vital part of sustainable agriculture," he said.
Sime Darby Plantation Bhd group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said Malaysia should be placed in the low risk category and reference of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification in the EUDR guideline.
The low risk category is the lowest category out of three that was outlined by the EUDR which also consisted of high risk and standard category.
"We have the data to prove that Malaysia should be listed under the low risk category, and with the representative from Brussels coming over to Malaysia, this is an opportunity for us to showcase what we have," he added.