The Minister of Primary Industries, Teresa Kok flew to JB early yesterday morning to launch the first export shipment of MSPO (Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil) certified palm oil to Japan at Mewaholeo Industries refinery in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

At the press conference, the CEO of Mewaholeo, Michelle Cheo said her company managed to sell MSPO-certified palm oil to Japan at a premium. The company is also paying premium to palm oil mills for MSPO-certified palm oil.

However, Mewaholeo is now facing the problem of shortage in MSPO-certified palm oil in catering to the needs of the Japanese market.

This serves as great news to our oil palm smallholders as well as small and medium sized oil palm owners who are sceptical about MSPO certification.

As the government is paying 100% certification cost to all the oil palm owners below 1,000 hectares, Teresa Kok hopes to see more stakeholders come forward to take up the MSPO certification before end of year. This is because the offer of incentives by the government will end by 31 December 2019.