In a statement, SDP said it had filed its suit in order to gain information regarding a complaint made by Liberty Shared managing director Duncan Jepsen, which it believed had resulted in an investigation being initiated.

“It has since been clarified by the SC that there is no investigation into the complaint. Accordingly, SDP has now withdrawn the discovery application.”

In response to SDP’s legal action, non-profit organisation SHIFT left the palm oil giant’s newly set-up human rights commission, with activist Andy Hall telling Reuters he was considering leaving too.

However, with the withdrawal of the suit, Hall, said he would remain on the rights committee, calling the move a “genuine show of good faith”.

“The withdrawal of this legal action for discovery is, most importantly, an opportunity for SDP to once again focus on demonstrating to the public and its key stakeholders its sincere intention to build towards a better future for workers in the palm oil industry,” he said in a statement.

“Specifically, SDP can also refocus its efforts on ensuring that any indicator of forced labour among its own foreign workforce is investigated and remediated.”

In December, the US Customs and Border Patrol banned the company’s palm oil imports following a petition from Liberty Shared over forced labour allegations in SDP, which prompted some global buyers to drop it from their supply chains.