⁍ The United States has banned imports of palm oil from Malaysian company FGV Holdings.

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⁍ The U.S. agency said the ban was the result of a year-long investigation.

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⁍ FGV has long faced allegations from rights groups over labour and human rights abuses.

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– The US has banned imports of palm oil from one of the world’s largest producers over allegations of forced labor, Reuters reports. The move against FGV Holdings comes after a year-long investigation by US Customs and Border Protection that found signs of abuse including “abuse of the vulnerable, deception, physical and sexual violence, intimidation and threats, and retention of identity documents,” the agency said in a statement. “The use of forced labor in the production of such a ubiquitous product allows companies to profit from the abuse of vulnerable workers,” a CBP official said. FGV, which has a joint venture with Procter & Gamble, is one of the biggest producers of palm oil, which is used in everything from food to cosmetics. Indonesia and Malaysia are the two biggest producers of palm oil, and the industry has also been blamed for deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats. Anti-trafficking group Liberty Shared submitted a petition to CBP in April against another Malaysian palm oil producer, Sime Darby Plantation, over alleged labor abuse. The company said in July it had asked the rights group for more information and that it would swiftly address any breaches following a thorough investigation.