Jakarta, Nov. 13 -- Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno emphasized that sustainability standards applied to the palm oil industry must be universal, not designed to benefit only one region.

Delivering his remarks at the 21st Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) and 2026 Price Outlook here on Thursday, Oegroseno criticized the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which he said is inconsistent with international sustainability principles, burdens smallholders, discriminates against developing countries, and potentially violates social justice within the supply chain.

"Universal principles form the foundation of international law. Therefore, the standards must also be universal. It does not mean that western (E...