From paper to practice

With OFI 2026, we look back on a valuable moment for our sector. Representatives from business, producing countries, governments, NGOs and the European Commission came together to share knowledge and look ahead. The event once again confirmed the special position of the Netherlands as a gateway to Europe for oils and fats.

On the horizon, the necessary challenges await us. The EUDR, MOAH, resilience legislation and the EU trade agreement with Indonesia are just a selection of the many changes our sector will have to deal with. Much legislation and regulation is understandable and necessary. But what is well arranged on paper must also work in practice.

And that is cause for concern. The accumulation of rules, inspections and supervision is making the playing field increasingly complex and increasing the administrative burden. We must avoid getting bogged down in Byzantine bureaucracy. Rules must be clear and workable and proportionate to what we want to achieve with them. In doing so, we must prevent the Netherlands from unnecessarily taking the lead in regulation, supervision and enforcement through national additions to European legislation.

Our companies operate in a European and often international market. If the regulatory burden and costs in the Netherlands are higher than in the countries around us, that weakens their competitive position, and therefore also the earning capacity of the Netherlands. A level playing field and less administrative burden are therefore not a side issue, but a necessity.

And that is an important task for MVO. We stand for improving the competitiveness of our members. We continue to identify bottlenecks, bring our shared interests to attention and engage in dialogue with policymakers, enforcement bodies and politicians. Because ultimately, the success of policy is not determined on paper, but by business in practice.

Frans Claassen,

Managing Director MVO - The Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry