Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Breaking News - RTRS - INTERVIEW-India urged to cut import duty on green palm oil

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A vegetable oils industry body has asked the Indian government to cut its tax on eco-friendly imports of the commodity by one to two percent in a bid to boost consumption, a top trader said on Monday.

India, the world's largest vegetable oil buyer, appears to be heeding a call for large consumers to become more environmentally friendly and buy palm oil from estates committed to protecting forests in Southeast Asia.

Dorab Mistry, head of vegetable oils trading arm of Godrej International and a leading analyst, said the firm's parent spearheaded the Hindustan Unilever coalition of refiners and traders that put the proposal to the government.