Malaysian Government Calls On Palm Oil Industry To Self-Regulate To Avoid Environmental Problems

[hatrack]

SANDAKAN: Oil palm companies in the east Asean growth area must adopt "self regulation" through sustainable development to counter the anti-palm oil lobby.

State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin said that it was necessary for them to implement sustainable oil palm development on their own to counter campaigns by the lobby that rainforests were being destroyed and the habitats of orang utans were being wiped out.

"The best regulation is self-regulation. I don't think we like the idea that one day some foreign pressure group dictates how we should grow our oil palm. "We might find ourselves compelled to follow what they say because our palm oil depends on foreign markets," Ewon said.

He was speaking at the opening of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines - East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) oil palm stake holders forum here.

EDIT

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/business/20071004145039&sec=business

[phantom power]

1. Right. Because Self Regulation has such a rich pedigree of success.

:eyes:

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Great, they can send themselves a Stiffly Worded Letter. nt