1 October 2020

The United States has banned imports from a Malaysian palm oil giant that supplies household titans like Procter & Gamble and Nestle over concerns its workers face physical and sexual violence and other abuses.  

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the ban on palm oil imports from FGV Holdings – one of Malaysia’s top producers – [...] following a year-long probe that also found indications the firm was withholding wages and using child labor. 

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The American decision [...] means that all palm oil and palm oil products made by FGV and related companies are barred from US ports of entry.

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The company said it was “disappointed” by the move when it had been “taking concrete steps” in recent years to improve standards at its operations. 

“FGV does not tolerate any form of human rights infringements or criminal offense in its operations,” it said in a statement.

Steps include improving procedures in recruiting migrant workers, a commitment to paying foreign worker recruitment fees and ramping up investment in improving their accommodation, it said. 

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