FOP and UFOP ask EU to protect biodiesel market

In Germany, UFOP reports that they have joined with the French union of oilseeds and proteins crops producers (FOP) to ask the European Commission to protect EU biodiesel market. On September 7^th, member state representatives narrowly approved the proposal by the EU Commission to reduce by September 28 the customs duties on biodiesel imports from Argentina. FOP and UFOP said they don’t understand this decision and asked for the EU Commission quickly protect EU market from Argentinian distorting practices.

Furthermore, FOP and UFOP are criticizing the lack of coherent policies of the European Commission. They said the Commission cannot propose a reduction of EU production of biofuels from cultivating biomass with the motive of environmental issues at the same time as widely opening its markets to external biofuels and also to genetic modified protein meal imports. This policy denies EU oilseed growers the perspective to keep oilseeds in their crop rotation systems. Therefore, FOP and UFOP demand a strong EU policy promoting the environmental benefits within a circular economy of its farming and protecting its market from unfair competition.