U.S. Lifts Import Ban on Goods Made with Palm Oil

Trade Update • February 8, 2023

ffective February 3, 2023, U.S. customs authorities have lifted a two-year import ban on palm oil products and derivates produced by Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation — upon determining that the goods were no longer produced with forced labor.

Sime Darby Plantation, the world’s largest palm oil company by land size, is among eight Malaysian companies that the U.S. has banned over forced labor allegations in the past four years. Goods produced by Sime Darby Plantation have been banned since December 2020 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from entering the United States over suspected abusive labor practices.

CBP Determination

In a notice published on the U.S. Federal Register website, CBP said it had now “determined that the products were no longer being mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part with the use of convict, forced, or indentured labor by Sime Darby Plantation”, citing additional information it had received.

Questions about the lifting of this import ban, and if your products are affected? We are always here to help, contact us.