Singapore, 17 May 2023 – Following an earlier announcement by the EU Parliament in April, the European Union Council announced yesterday it had adopted the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that aims to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on or exported from the EU market.
The European Union’s ambition behind the regulation, part of the more ambitious and visionary European Green Deal, is commendable.
To achieve the goals of the European Green Deal, implementing the regulation will require genuine engagement with producing countries, in particular, to leave “no one and no place behind”. Smallholder farmers are not a “deforestation risk” for the EU, yet they may not have the means to demonstrate their compliance. They may have land rights but no land titles and no farm maps to prove compliance. They are now at risk of being left behind.
As one of its many stakeholders, Musim Mas sees it as an opportunity for Indonesia and the European Union to develop mutually beneficial implementation measures. The ambition behind the European Green Deal, Indonesia’s vision of sustainable growth and our commitments are based on the same principles.
Involved in every step of the supply chain, from independent smallholders to the consumer products on supermarket shelves, Musim Mas hopes that all parties can find common ground where objectives overlap or goals are aligned.
As a palm oil company deeply vested in the success of Indonesia’s independent smallholders and the concerns of consumers worldwide, we hope that parties at all levels will consider the needs and potential of Indonesia’s independent smallholders and that allocating the right resources can make EUDR a shared success.
About Musim Mas
Musim Mas Group is an integrated palm oil company, operating in 13 countries. From plantations, to mills, refineries, kernel-crushing plants, oleochemicals, and specialty fats plants, Musim Mas manufactures palm oil products and value-added derivatives. Musim Mas is one of the largest domestic producers and exporters in Indonesia. Inter-Continental Oils and Fats (ICOF), a member of Musim Mas Group, undertakes global marketing activities.
The Group is committed to sustainability and was the first company with significant operations in Indonesia to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2004. Committed early to emissions reductions, Musim Mas is a signatory to the Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5 Degrees convened by the Tropical Forest Alliance. The roadmap aims to halt commodity-linked deforestation in line with the 1.5-degree pathway while enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and supporting the sector’s transformation toward forest-positive land-use management. In January 2024, Musim Mas announced that it will strive to achieve net zero by 2050, aligning with climate science as per the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Musim Mas also manages the most extensive independent smallholder programs in Indonesia.
Musim Mas Contact Details
Email: communications@musimmas.com
Phone: (65) 6576 6500
Media Enquiries: (65) 9012 1582 (WhatsApp Calls only)
