The practice of discharging waste palm oil into the sea may be included in a revised sustainability standard to be drafted by certification body the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) next year, according to an Eco-Business report.
The RSPO’s statement followed two recent incidences of palm oil dumping reported off the coast of Malaysia, the 14 August report said.
Although banned in European waters, palm oil dumping was still legally permissible under international pollution regulations in certain conditions, Eco-Business wrote.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said that waste reception facilities at ports are crucial for avoiding waste dumping by ships at sea.
However, such facilities were often lacking in Southeast Asia – ships sometimes discharged palm oil residue at sea to avoid paying to use waste reception facilities as this was legally permissible, the report said.
According to marine scientist Dr Sian Prior, shipping policy director of non-profit campaigning organisation Seas At Risk, it is a “travesty” that a ban on palm oil dumping has not been introduced worldwide.
“Palm oil dumping should be banned globally, not just in Europe. There is no reason why tank washing of palm oil will have less impact in European waters than anywhere else,” Dr Prior was quoted as saying.
Although the long-term environmental impact of releasing palm oil into the sea was uncertain, environmental groups such as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have claimed large spills could affect marine life and reduce oxygen levels in the water, Eco-Business wrote.
A study by Environment Canada found that significant vegetable oil spills could have an impact on sea birds and intertidal organisms, the report said.
