Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries
Map showing Indonesia and Malaysia
Indonesia (green) and Malaysia (orange)
SecretariatJakarta
Membership
3 states
Establishment21 November 2015
Website
www.cpopc.org

The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) is an intergovernmental organization founded by Indonesia and Malaysia to collectively promote the global use of palm oil. Together, the two countries produce the majority of the world's palm oil, a product that has come under pressure due to environmental concerns. The CPOPC was founded in 2015 following the establishment of independent palm oil sustainability standards in both countries, and part of its purpose is to harmonize sustainability standards between the two.

History

Two rows of stout palm trees with a dirt car trail between them
An oil palm plantation in Riau, Indonesia

Indonesia and Malaysia are globally significant producers of palm oil, together producing 90% of total supplies.[1] With palm oil becoming a contentious environmental issue, both countries independently established palm oil sustainability certifications. The ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) was launched in March 2011, with audits beginning in May 2012 and all palm oil producers expected to be in compliance by the end of 2014. The MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) was launched in November 2013, and came into full effect on 1 January 2015, although it was not mandatory for all oil producers.[2] (The MSPO was made mandatory in 2017, with compliance needed by 2019.[3])

The formation of the CPOPC was announced in 2015 by Indonesia and Malaysia.[2] It was formally founded on 21 November 2015, and reached full operation in 2017.[4]

Objectives

The stated objective of the organization is "To promote, develop and strengthen cooperation in the oil palm cultivation and industry among the Member Countries, and to ensure long term benefits of such palm oil endeavors to the economic development and well being of the people of the Member Countries".[4]

The CPOPC was created with the goals of harmonizing sustainability standards, coordinating production, and developing the palm oil industry.[2] The CPOPC also strengthened government control over the palm oil industry, with Indonesian authorities forcing the dissolution of the existing privately created "Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge", which they accused of being created by a cartel-like system.[3]

The organization plays a role in promoting palm oil abroad. It seeks to combat challenges such as the European Union's EU Deforestation Regulation, which Malaysian deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof suggests may be protectionist rather than a purely environmental concern. The United States is also seen as potentially restricting palm oil sales.[5]

The CPOPC claimed in 2022 that palm oil in both countries supported 3.6% of GDP, and the employment of 19 million people, including 3.35 million smallholders.[4]

Membership

Member Status
Indonesia Indonesia Member
Malaysia Malaysia Member
Honduras Honduras Member[6]
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Observer
Colombia Colombia Observer
Ghana Ghana Observer


Colombia, Ghana, Honduras, and Papua New Guinea have attended meetings as observers, and are expected to become full members.[7] In February 2023 Malaysia, as chair, invited Thailand to join the organisation.[5]

The secretariat is located in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir (25 January 2023). "Fighting discriminative trade policies through CPOPC". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Rival, Alain; Montet, Didier; Pioch, Daniel (2016). "Certification, labelling and traceability of palm oil: can we build confidence from trustworthy standards?" (PDF). Oilseeds & Fats Crops and Lipids. 23 (6): 8. doi:10.1051/ocl/2016042. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 Pacheco, Pablo; Schoneveld, George; Dermawan, Ahmad; Komarudin, Heru; Djama, Marcel (May 2017). "The public and private regime complex for governing palm oil supply". CIFOR Infobriefs. 174. doi:10.17528/cifor/006464. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Regional perspective and challenges of the oil palm industry and GFP-SPO" (PDF). Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries. 29 September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Malaysia invites Thailand to become CPOPC member". The Sun Malaysia. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Indonesia welcomes Honduras as CPOPC's third member state". Antara News. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Four countries set to join CPOPC as full members in May, says exec director". Malay Mail. 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.

See Also

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