One Malaysia Pam Oil Co. Out of U.S. CBP Lifts Import
Restrictions After Forced Labour Remediation
FGV Holdings Berhad remediates forced labor in its production of palm oil and palm oil products
·
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) modified the Withhold Release Order
(WRO) on FGV
Holdings Berhad, Malaysia, on 15 January 2026
·
The WRO, originally issued on 30 September 2020,
covered palm oil and palm
oil products produced by FGV, its subsidiaries and joint
ventures
·
Effective 15 January 2026, palm oil and palm oil
products produced by FGV will no
longer be detained at U.S. ports of entry, subject to
compliance with U.S. laws
·
CBP determined that FGV
has remediated forced labour practices in its palm oil
production
·
The decision follows CBP’s review confirming that FGV no longer produces goods using forced
labour
Enforcement Context
·
This is CBP’s
first WRO modification in fiscal year 2026
·
Since 2019, CBP has issued or modified eight WROs and Findings
in Malaysia’s palm oil and glove manufacturing sectors
·
Enforcement actions have resulted in over USD 85 million repaid
to workers for withheld wages and recruitment fees
Statements and Significance
·
CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott said the action reinforces
responsible trade and
worker protection
·
CBP emphasized that WROs are modified only after clear evidence of remediation
·
The move supports fair
competition, supply chain accountability, and the dignity of exploited workers
Background
·
The 2020 WRO was based on evidence that FGV’s operations
met all 11 International
Labour Organization forced labour indicators
·
Since then, FGV undertook corrective actions through CBP’s
established remediation and review process
·
The modification aligns with CBP’s broader efforts during Human Trafficking Prevention Month
to enforce forced labour laws globally
U.S.
Customs and Border Protection on 15 January 2026 took a decisive step to
address forced labor in global supply chains by
modifying the Withhold Release Order issued Sept. 30, 2020, against palm oil
and palm oil products produced in Malaysia by FGV Holdings Berhad, its
subsidiaries and joint ventures (collectively known as FGV).
As
of Jan. 15, 2026, the U.S. will no longer detain at ports of entry
palm oil and palm oil products produced by FGV and, effective immediately, will
allow palm oil and palm oil products produced by FGV to enter the United
States, provided they are otherwise compliant with U.S. laws.
“Responsible
trade must protect the people behind the product, not put them at risk,” said
Rodney S. Scott, CBP Commissioner. “When our review showed that FGV’s shipments
weren’t meeting U.S. standards, we took action to stop them. The company has
now made the corrections we required, and this modification helps keep our
supply chains fair, secure and accountable.”
This
is the agency’s first modification in fiscal year 2026. Since 2019, CBP has
issued and modified eight WROs and Findings in the palm oil and glove
manufacturing sectors of Malaysia. As a result of these enforcement actions,
companies have repaid over $85 million in withheld wages and recruitment fees
to workers trapped in debt bondage. These changes have led to a more level
playing field for American businesses and workers.
CBP
does not modify WROs or Findings until the agency has evidence demonstrating
that the producer of subject merchandise no longer produces, manufactures or
mines the subject goods using forced labor.
“By
restoring the true value of labor through these
reimbursements, we are doing more than leveling the
playing field for American businesses. We are affirming the inherent dignity of
workers who have been exploited by these companies,” said Acting Executive
Assistant Commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade Susan S. Thomas. “On this
Human Trafficking Prevention Month, this action helps to demonstrate the
effectiveness of CBP’s forced labor enforcement.”
On
Sept. 30, 2020, CBP issued a WRO against imported palm oil and palm oil
products produced using forced labor, wholly or in
part, by FGV, based on evidence reasonably indicating that the working
conditions at FGV exposed workers to all 11 International Labour Organization
forced labor indicators. Since implementing the WRO,
FGV has taken actions to identify, correct and prevent forced labor using the established process that allows interested
parties to request that CBP modify a WRO or Finding.