InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government has officially established a special inter-ministerial committee to respond to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This committee is directly led by Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Johari Ghani, and held its inaugural meeting in Putrajaya.
In an official statement reported by InfoSAWIT from Free Malaysia Today on Friday, July 6, 2025, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities noted that the committee also involves the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry. The primary focus is to ensure that Malaysia is classified as a low-risk country under the EUDR assessment system, which will be implemented on December 30, 2025.
"Our current priority is to strengthen the national tracking system and provide reliable forestry data for the Global Forest Resources Assessment by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), which serves as the quantitative basis for evaluating the country's risk under the EUDR," the ministry stated.
Additionally, this committee will serve as the main communication channel between Malaysia and the European Commission, including the submission of official data, policy updates, and participation in technical discussions related to the EUDR's implementation.
This proactive step demonstrates the Malaysian government's strong commitment to maintaining the sustainability of its key export commodities, such as palm oil, rubber, timber, and cocoa, which collectively amounted to RM186 billion last year.
Initially, the EUDR was scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024. However, its implementation has been postponed until the end of this year for large companies and major traders, while micro and small enterprises have until June 30, 2026, to comply with the regulations.
Minister Johari previously stated that approximately 70-80% of small palm oil farmers in Malaysia are preparing to meet the standards set by the EU. The government is working diligently to ensure that all smallholders can adapt and not be left behind in this transition process.
This proactive approach is a crucial part of Malaysia's efforts to retain export access to the EU market while demonstrating that agricultural and forestry practices in the country can meet international sustainability standards. (T2)
