Washington slapped a ban on palm oil imports from Malaysian palm oil producer Sime Darby Plantation at the yearend over allegations of forced labour during production, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, report agencies.
The ban on Sime Darby is another blow to an industry that has faced mounting allegations of labour and human rights abuses.
Sime Darby is the largest palm oil company in the world by land size and seen as a leader in sustainably produced palm oil.
Palm oil, used in everything from food to cosmetics to biodiesel, is mainly produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, where the industry has been blamed for wide-scale deforestation and habitat destruction.
The CBP said it had issued a 'withhold release order' on Sime Darby, which will allow it to detain shipments based on suspicion of forced labour involvement under longstanding US laws aimed at combating human rights abuses.
Sime Darby said it was reviewing the statement to better understand any potential impact, and would engage with the agency to address the concerns raised.
"The allegations made suggest a breach in the implementation of (Sime Darby's) own strict policies," it said on Thursday.
US bans palm oil import from Malaysia's Sime Darby
FE Team | Published: January 01, 2021 21:32:44
US bans palm oil import from Malaysia's Sime Darby
Share if you like