Liberia reviews new oil palm rules as LACRA pushes for clearer sector oversight

LIBERIA – Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) convened a high level stakeholder meeting in Monrovia this week to review and validate proposed regulations for Liberia’s oil palm sector.

LACRA held the stakeholder validation meeting on January 29, 2026, at the Boulevard Palace Hotel in Sinkor. Senior government officials, regulators, growers, and exporters attended the session, including Commerce and Industry Minister Modeline Dagoseh, Deputy Minister Andrew Payegar, Deputy Agriculture Minister Moses Gbaryan, and representatives from the Liberia Revenue Authority, Central Bank of Liberia, Liberia Immigration Service, and Liberia National Police.

LACRA Acting Director General Dan T. Saryee opened the meeting by stressing the purpose of the gathering. “We are not only here to review a document but to design the future of Liberia’s most resilient and promising sector,” he said. “For too long, the potential of our oil palm industry has been hindered by the lack of clear, modernized, and enforceable regulations. Today, we are here to change that.”

Saryee said the authority wants rules that work on farms and processing sites, not only on paper. He urged participants to speak openly during the review process. “LACRA does not need a regulation that is only binding on paper but one that is practical in the field,” he added.

Focus on enforcement and fair practice

Saryee described oil palm as central to food supply and economic growth. He said LACRA has adjusted its role so that all actors, from small growers to exporters, understand their duties and their legal cover. He also confirmed that LACRA plans to apply the rules across all fifteen counties once validation ends.

Commerce and Industry Minister Dagoseh backed the effort and thanked LACRA for taking the lead. She promised full support during implementation and said clear rules will help trade and investment.

LACRA Board Chairperson Josephine George Francis also pointed to the sector’s economic value. She said strong regulation can raise foreign exchange earnings and create jobs in rural areas.

Traceability plans add wider context

The oil palm talks follow another recent LACRA move on farm traceability. On January 28, the authority shared a National Agriculture Traceability System Roadmap aimed at meeting the European Union Deforestation Regulation. The plan focuses on tracking products from farms to markets to protect exports.

During that meeting, Saryee warned of risks if Liberia fails to act. “Many people misunderstand the intent of EUDR. It is not just a European requirement; it is a global requirement,” he said. He added that the issue has come up in talks with China. “If EUDR is not addressed, we as legislators, government officials, and technicians risk a situation where over 30 percent of our farmers’ products will grow and die on the farms without access to markets.”

LACRA said it will merge feedback from both processes into final rules that guide the oil palm sector and protect farmers and exports.

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