Time: 2024

By: European Parliament 

On 13 March 2024, the European Parliament adopted the provisional agreement reached through negotiations with the EU institutions on the Regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the European Union (EU) market.

This Regulation establishes a comprehensive legal framework to prohibit the placing, making available, or export of any products manufactured using forced labour from the EU market. It applies to all goods regardless of their origin or sales channel and aligns the definition of forced labour with the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The enforcement mechanism is based on a risk-based approach, combining the development of a Forced Labour Risk Database by the European Commission with close cooperation among the network of competent authorities of Member States and customs authorities.

Strict enforcement measures include market bans, product withdrawals, and the disposal of non-compliant goods. At the same time, the Regulation provides specific support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce administrative burdens and safeguards the rights of economic operators to present their defense. The Regulation will become fully applicable 36 months after its entry into force, creating an urgent need for supply chain transparency among the EU’s global trading partners.

The English version of the document is attached below:

• Proposal for a regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market

• Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence
• Joint recommendations from an alliance of garment industry representatives for the EU CSDDD
• Report: "Study on due diligence requirements through the supply chain"
• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector