Indonesia joins Malaysia in banning ‘palm oil free’ products from stores to protect industry
- Indonesia and Malaysia together account for about 85 per cent of global palm oil supply, but are under pressure after the EU moved to phase out palm oil use
- The country says it has a duty to protect the palm oil industry, and will educate people through an awareness campaign
Local and imported food items labelled “palm oil free” or “no palm oil” that are found at some high-end stores, will be removed, Penny K. Lukito, head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control, said on Wednesday.
“The labelling is part of a black campaign to undermine the competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil,” Lukito told reporters in Jakarta. “Palm oil is very important for Indonesia and it is the government’s duty to protect the industry.”
The agency will initially educate and persuade the sellers, she said. Legal action will be taken if the stores continue to sell those products, she added. She declined to name the retailers.
There’s a perception among people living in urban areas that palm oil is not healthy, which encourages consumers to avoid the product, but that has not been scientifically proven, Lukito said.
