Commodity restrictions: EU needs to be more open - Fadillah

KUCHING, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- 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.

Fadilah who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities said this is because Malaysia and the EU have 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 Petra Jaya parliamentary level here today.

Commenting further, Fadillah said the restrictions are a form of discrimination that the EU may have to carry out to protect their own commodities.

He said the requirements related to sustainability have also been implemented in Malaysia and this effort will continue to be improved.

"So 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.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to be reviewed because it causes difficulties and challenges to the palm oil industry.

During a joint press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is on a visit to the country, Anwar said Malaysia is facing difficulties in the series of negotiations with the EU to discuss the matter.

-- BERNAMA