News & Events

Public Consultations Begin on PNG’s First Comprehensive Palm Oil Industry Legislative Framework 2025

The Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC), in partnership with the Ministry for Oil Palm, today launched the first in a nationwide series of public consultations on two landmark pieces of legislation designed to modernise and strengthen Papua New Guinea’s palm oil sector: the Palm Oil Industry Authority Bill 2025 and the Palm Oil Management Bill 2025.

The consultations follow the recent endorsement of the National Palm Oil Policy 2025–2030 by the National Executive Council (NEC), and represent a major step in aligning the Government’s long-term development goals under Vision 2050, the Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV), and the National Agriculture Sector Plan (NASP) with a robust, enforceable legislative framework.

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OPIC General-Secretary Kepson Pupita says PNG’s oil palm reform has started on a strong footing, describing the Bubia, Lae regional consultation on the two new Oil Palm Bills held on 27 and 28 November as the “best ever” held for the industry.

He said the draft bills—born out of the PNG National Oil Palm Policy 2025–2030—finally set the path for a modern legal framework after decades of an unregulated sector.

Milling companies, landowners and smallholder growers all gave full support, with stakeholders from Madang, Morobe and across the value chain backing the reform agenda.

National consultations continue next week in Port Moresby, West New Britain, Wewak and Kokopo before the bills go for legal vetting and drafting. The aim is to have the bills before Parliament by mid-2026.

Mr Pupita says the reform represents a long-overdue reset for an industry stuck at 250,000 hectares for years due to lack of regulation.

“This is a reset after 50 years of independence,” he said, urging all regions to participate and support the draft laws.