CBP Issues Withhold Release Orders on Palm Oil From Two Indonesian Producers Over Forced Labor

CBP issued Withhold Release Orders under 19 U.S.C. 1307 covering palm oil and palm oil derivative products produced in Indonesia by Mitra Aneka Rezeki (MAR) and Hardaya Inti Plantation (HIP). Effective immediately, CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain covered shipments. CBP cited interview transcripts, payroll slips, harvest quota data, photographs, NGO and government reports, media, and academic research showing ILO forced labor indicators at both plantations, debt bondage, withholding of wages, deception, excessive overtime, abusive working and living conditions, intimidation and threats, and abuse of vulnerability, with retention of identity documents and isolation additionally found at MAR. Importers of detained shipments may export or destroy the goods or submit evidence that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor. With these actions CBP enforces 60 WROs and eight Findings under Section 1307.