The European Union-Asean Business Council called on the Phillippines to steer member states into strengthening licensing and oversight frameworks for high risk goods like fuel, wildlife, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and alcohol.

Plantation and commodities minister Noraini Ahmad said an official used cooking oil (UCO) benchmark will improve market transparency, guide fair trading, and support a more sustainable palm oil market.

They called for fairer policies, stronger support, and inclusion in global sustainability standards such as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and EU Deforestation Regulation at annual roundtable conference on sustainable palm oil, RT2025.

Studio EB The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and the China Sustainable Palm Oil Alliance have been advocating for greater supply chain traceability and encouraging Chinese buyers to deepen their support for certified growers on the ground, including in Southeast Asia.