KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Malaysia and Indonesia will fight a "black campaign” that seeks to tar the crude palm oil (CPO) sold by both countries and increase global acceptance of products derived from palm oil.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak noted that CPO is a key commodity exported by the two countries, adding that they will need to address environmental concerns regarding the product.

"We need to make a joint study, not only on marketing, but also to respond certain [environmental] issues so that palm oil products can be accepted all over the world,” he was quoted saying yesterday by Indonesian daily The Jakarta Post.

In the same report, Indonesia’s Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) will soon carry out research to counter an allegation from a study that palm oil products contained a cancer-causing substance.

The minister said this allegation has hindered the entry of Malaysia and Indonesia’s CPO into the French market.

According to The Jakarta Post, stringent environmental standards in developed markets like the EU have hampered the export of Malaysia and Indonesia’s CPO and palm oil products there.

The two top global CPO producers had formed the CPOPC last October to seek solutions for the industry, with more palm oil-producing nations set to join the council, the report said.