CPO Producers Banned from Buying Forest-grown Palm Oil Fruits
11 November 2014 15:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Ministry official asks CPO producers not to buy palm oil fruits planted and grown in forests. Forest security advisor for the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Basoeki Karyaatmadja, said the forest ecosystems could be damaged if planted with palm oil.
The ban, Basoeki said, is set in Law No.18/2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction. "There are criminal and civil penalties for companies [that violate the rule]," Basoeki told Tempo.
Palm oil fruits grown in forests are sold for a lower price than those coming from plantations. However, these forest-grown palm oil fruits are illegal. Basoeki said many companies have been given penalties for being caught buying illegal oil. "Some have had their business licenses revoked," he said.
According to Basuki, Riau province have the largest number of companies buying illegal palm fruits that were planted in the forest.
Basoeki said the government is targeting the national CPO production to reach 40 million tons in 2020. The target is 48 percent higher over 2013's total production of 27 million tons.
HUSSEIN ABRI YUSUF
