The European Union (EU) needs to take a more open attitude over the bloc’s restrictions on the entry of certain commodities, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah, who is also the plantation and commodities minister, said this is because Malaysia and the EU share the same commitment to ensuring aspects of sustainability are taken into account in the production of commodities.
“Our commitment and theirs are the same, but maybe our approach is different.
“[We hope] the EU can review its regulations, so that they take into account the views of other countries (commodity producers), such as our country, Indonesia and Thailand,” he said after attending the World Cancer Day programme at the Petra Jaya parliamentary level here on Saturday (Feb 18).
Commenting further, Fadillah said the restrictions are a form of discrimination that the EU may have to carry out to protect their own commodities.
According to him, the requirements related to sustainability have also been implemented in Malaysia, and this effort will continue to be improved.
“We expect what we have implemented to be adopted and recognised by the EU. That’s what we want to say to them,” he said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for the EU Deforestation Regulation to be reviewed, because it would cause difficulties and challenges to the palm oil industry.
During a joint press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who was on a visit to the country, Anwar said Malaysia is facing difficulties in the series of negotiations with the EU to discuss the matter.
