KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): The Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) has observed with great concern over the United States ban on Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, citing allegations of forced labour in its production process. The US government widened its ban on Malaysian palm oil imports yesterday over allegations that Sime Darby Plantation Bhd uses forced labour in the production process. Under a new Withhold Release Order, the US Customs and Border Protection will be required to detain any palm oil arriving in the US from Sime Darby Plantation. MPOCC acting chief executive officer Simon Selvaraj, in a statement today, said under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, which is mandatory across the board for the industry, there were clear and strong requirements on workers’ rights and health and safety, and that no forms of forced or trafficked labour were used.