The Norwegian food and feed industries have both pledged their support for the Declaration.
Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg made the announcement in Oslo this week, recognising that the link between deforestation from palm oil production and European demand for agricultural commodities.
According to the Declaration, Europe, as the world’s largest economy, has both an opportunity and responsibility to move the global economy in a sustainable direction.
"Europe is the second largest global import market for palm oil and home to some of the world’s biggest brands and companies. Europe can be an important ‘game changer’ when it comes to a sustainable palm oil supply chain for the world. This can only be achieved if all public and private stakeholders work together in a coherent way according to each role and responsibility," reads the text.
Joost Oorthuizen, executive director at IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, called the move encouraging. “Europe is the second largest importer of palm oil in the world, and an harmonized approach will accelerate and upscale the use of sustainable palm oil in Europe and act as an example for other regions.”
EPOA-chair and MVO-managing director Frans Claassen said: “By increasing engagement with our partners and allies, defining a coordinated approach in Europe, we are amplifying the outreach and effectiveness on the commitment and the monitoring regarding sustainable palm oil.”
The commitment was established by non-profit organisation, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and The Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry (MVO) group’s European Sustainable Palm Oil in December 2015. It was subsequently supported by the German, Danish, French, Dutch and UK governments.