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PETALING JAYA: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will stop palm oil and palm oil-containing products produced by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries starting tomorrow, following allegations by forced labor.
This comes a few months after CBP took similar action on FGV Holdings Berhad products for nearly identical reasons.
In a statement, CBP said that the issuance of a release withholding order against palm oil from Sime Darby Plantation is based on information “that reasonably indicates the presence of the 11 indicators of forced labor from the International Labor Organization” in the production process of Sime Darby Plantation.
“This detainer release order demonstrates how essential it is for Americans to investigate the origin of the everyday products they purchase,” said Acting CBP Commissioner Mark A Morgan. “American consumers can help end modern slavery by choosing to buy products that they know are ethically and humanely sourced.”
CBP said the Release Hold Order (WRO) would require the detention at all US ports of entry of crude palm oil and processed products containing palm oil produced by Sime Darby Plantation.
However, CBP provided an opportunity for Sime Darby to export his shipments or demonstrate that the merchandise was not produced by forced labor.
Sime Darby previously responded to allegations of child and forced labor by a US-based group, saying he was unaware of the specific allegations contained in a petition filed against him with CBP.
The palm oil company said the NGO Liberty Shared had not contacted it for a response to the allegations before filing the petition against it.
He said that he only had access to the summary of the petition that contains the questions raised, but “without any details about the interviews that were conducted.”
Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that the NGO had filed a petition to ban the importation of palm oil produced by Sime Darby following alleged evidence of child and forced labor on plantations that supply US food and beverage companies. cosmetics.
The allegations, including withholding of wages, withholding of passports and inadequate living conditions, were said to have been based on interviews conducted with local and foreign workers over a period of two years.
Liberty Shared CEO Duncan Jepson said the group had also met with civil society groups and reviewed public disclosures, audit reports and sustainability initiatives.
In the AP report, the group said it “found that Sime Darby had taken some concrete steps to prevent abuse.”
According to AP, the petition against Sime Darby Plantation follows two others filed against FGV Holdings Bhd by a law firm and a coalition of NGOs.
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