Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) is discussing a mechanism to protect Indonesian data in its negotiations with the European Union over implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Sawit Setara reported. The report, published on 2 October 2026, places data as a central issue in the talks, because information from supply chains in producer countries — including oil palm smallholders — is one of the sources operators rely on to meet EUDR requirements.
In the report, Erma Rheindrayani, the ministry's Director of Intra- and Inter-Regional Cooperation for America and Europe, said the ministry needs to understand the technical aspects on the ground. This understanding is needed so that the government is well equipped for negotiations and promotion abroad. Erma made the remarks at a hearing on strengthening the implementation of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification at the Riau Governor's Office on Thursday, 1 October 2026.
Erma said the ministry's visit was intended to help fight for Indonesia's interests by understanding what is being fought for. In the context of the source, the need to understand technical conditions relates to how data, certification, supply chains and the readiness of Indonesian actors are viewed in discussions with foreign partners. The source article does not detail the form of the data-protection mechanism under negotiation, so this account is limited to the information published by Sawit Setara.
Sawit Setara also reported that ISPO can be one of the parameters supporting compliance with the EUDR. Erma stressed, however, that holding an ISPO certificate does not automatically mean a product meets all EUDR requirements. This positions ISPO as a supporting element, not a replacement for the full compliance process required under the EUDR (see also ISPO as a path to EUDR compliance). Information on the palm oil regulatory framework is available on GIMNI's regulations page.
According to Erma, as quoted by Sawit Setara, responsibility for EUDR compliance lies with operators in the EU. Even so, the information required still comes from supply chains in producer countries. In other words, the primary data used in the compliance process comes from actors in the supply chain, including producers and smallholders, while the party bearing compliance responsibility is located in the EU, as stated in the source report.
Because this information flow involves data from producer countries, data governance and security have become a concern in discussions with the EU. Erma said the ministry is negotiating how data protection can be ensured. She also mentioned the need to be prepared in case of a data leak or other data-related problems. These remarks form the main basis of the report on the protection of oil palm farmers' data in the EUDR negotiations.
Sawit Setara wrote that Erma also highlighted the position of smallholders in EUDR implementation. According to her, the ministry will continue to defend smallholders' interests in discussions with foreign partners, including by ensuring technical readiness and compliance with applicable requirements. The source does not describe any specific scheme for smallholders, but confirms that their interests are part of the government's focus in these discussions.
Erma also noted that access to the European market should be considered alongside opportunities for market diversification. In the report, she said the global market is not limited to the EU, so businesses should consider other export destinations. This was presented as part of the context of negotiating for and promoting Indonesian palm oil abroad, not as detailed guidance on particular markets.
On the same occasion, Erma recalled her visit to Riau in 2024 accompanying the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). She said Riau already has a reputation for sustainable oil palm practices and that this experience should be used to strengthen the promotion of Indonesian palm oil. The hearing was described as a follow-up to a request from the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) to the Riau Provincial Plantation Office to discuss strengthening ISPO implementation in the oil palm sector.
The meeting was also attended by officials of the Riau Provincial Plantation Office, the Riau Provincial Environment and Forestry Office, GAPKI Riau, the Indonesian Oil Palm Smallholders Association (APKASINDO), UNDP, the Riau office of the National Land Agency (BPN), the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academics from Universitas Riau, and the INDEF partnership. Taken together, the main source reports only that the EUDR discussions cover data protection, the position of smallholders, support from ISPO, the responsibility of EU operators, and the need to understand technical conditions on the ground.
Sources monitored
- Sawit Setara — "Kemlu Siapkan Perlindungan Data Petani Sawit dalam Negosiasi EUDR" (Foreign Ministry prepares protection of oil palm farmers' data in EUDR negotiations), 2 October 2026: source link (in Indonesian).
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Indonesian version: Kemlu Bahas Perlindungan Data Petani Sawit dalam Negosiasi EUDR
