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In a move which could drive up prices further in the supermarket, the European Parliament is expected to back a ban by 2021 proposed by the Commission as part of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

The move comes as Britain prepares to open up trade with the rest of the world with a series of free trade agreements in the pipeline for after Brexit.

British post Brexit policy is expected to bring down the cost of living significantly in the UK, particularly around food prices.

The plans by the EU ban palm oil from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are officially to protect rain forests, but the three countries claim it is to protect their flagging oil oil industry in Italy, Spain and Greece.

Palm oil, which has also been used as an alternative to fossil fuels in cars in Europe and is a healthier oil for cooking, is grown mostly in Malaysia and Indonesia.