Arla Foods removes discriminatory "No Palm Oil" labels from LURPAK products

KUALA LUMPUR: Denmark's Arla Foods, the producer of LURPAK brand of dairy products, have agreed to remove discriminatory “No palm oil” labels within 60 days.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong recently met up with Denmark's Minister Counsellor, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Nina Hvid Talvela and Arla Foods here.

Mah said both Denmark government and Arla Foods have acknowledged products bearing “no palm oil” or “palm oil free” labels unfairly discriminates stakeholders throughout the palm oil value chain.

"Arla Foods have confirmed it will remove the discriminatory labels on LURPAK dairy goods from sale at supermarket shelves, within 60 days," Mah said in a statement today.

"This is a positive move indicating due respect for bilateral trade relations. The palm oil value chain in Malaysia involve planters, millers, refiners, logistics providers, distributors, retailers and consumers at large," he added.

Oil palm cultivation remains an important lifeline for rural communities as 650,000 smallholders depend on it and produce 40 per cent of the country's production. There is also some two million jobs indirectly benefiting from the palm oil industry.

The minister also said palm oil industry is also an important contributor to Malaysia's economy and export earnings.

"Therefore, the government will assiduously counter any negative campaign against it; be it domestically or abroad," he said.

Mah also announced Denmark government via Talvela have pledged support for Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and said they will work with Malaysia in correcting the negative perception of palm oil.

"The Danish Embassy and Arla Foods firmly support Malaysian small farmers and are committed to collaborate on MSPO," he said, adding this is in line with Denmark government's signing of the Amsterdam Declaration in December 2015 to promote and support a fully sustainable palm oil supply chain by 2020.

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