Tobacco From Malawi Now Subject to New CBP Withhold Release Order

CBP issued a new withhold release order on tobacco from Malawi and products containing tobacco from Malawi on Nov. 1, the agency said in a news release. "The products will be detained at all U.S. ports of entry," it said. "CBP issued the WRO based on information collected by the agency that reasonably indicates the tobacco from Malawi is produced using forced labor and forced child labor."

There's been a flurry of new WROs in recent months (see 1910010017). The Malawi WRO marks the first one against the African country issued by CBP and the seventh WRO issued in 2019. "While the WRO will require detention of tobacco from Malawi at all U.S. ports of entry, the WRO is not a ban," CBP said. "Rather, importers may offer proof that their tobacco and tobacco-containing products do not include tobacco from Malawi that was produced with labor prohibited under U.S. law. Importers of shipments detained under this WRO are also provided an opportunity to export their shipments under certain circumstances."