Malaysia to EU: Open up, on biofuels deliberations

In Belgium, Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysia’s Trade and Industry Minister, stated that more transparency was needed in the EU’s deliberations regarding how it intends to determine the environmental impacts of biofuels and whether or not to limit biofuel imports produced on either farmland or former forests.

Mohamed stated, “As one of the biggest producers of palm oil we are watching this very closely to make sure our interests are not adversely affected. We don’t know exactly how these things are being calculated… It is important for the EU to understand the position of developing countries.”