Malaysia’s palm oil lobby hails reprieve from EU deforestation law: ‘victory for common sense’

The new rule will mandate paperwork to prove commodities can be traced to their original plot of land via satellite coordinates and maps. This documentation must be submitted before products or raw materials are exported to the EU market.

Originally scheduled to come into effect on December 30, the regulation has been postponed by twelve months to 2025 following a surprise announcement by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the main promotional and marketing vehicle of the commodity, used in everything from soaps to foods, said the delay was a “sensible and much-needed step”, providing relief for businesses that require additional time to prepare for compliance with the complex regulatory demands of the EUDR.