A withhold release order that required the detention at all U.S. ports of entry of palm oil and palm oil products produced in Malaysia by FGV Holdings Berhad or its subsidiaries and joint ventures has been lifted. U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that as of Jan. 15, 2026, it is allowing such goods to enter the U.S. provided they are otherwise compliant with U.S. laws.
A CBP press release states that this WRO was issued Sept. 30, 2020, based on evidence reasonably indicating that the working conditions at FGV exposed workers to all 11 International Labor Organization forced labor indicators. However, since that time 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 forced labor finding.
CBP also notes that since 2019 it has issued and modified eight WROs and forced labor findings in Malaysia’s palm oil and glove manufacturing sectors, resulting in the repayment of more than $85 million in withheld wages and recruitment fees to workers trapped in debt bondage.
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg offers a comprehensive suite of services to help companies address forced labor concerns, including supply chain reviews, due diligence strategies, and proactive remediation. ST&R also maintains a web page offering a broad range of information on forced labor-related efforts in the U.S. and around the world. For more information, please contact ST&R at supplychainvisibility@strtrade.com.
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