The European Council has adopted a landmark regulation prohibiting the sale, export, and distribution of products made using forced labour within the Union. This marks the final step in the legislative process to combat forced labour globally.
The regulation establishes a robust framework for identifying and removing products tied to forced labour from the EU market. To support enforcement, the European Commission will develop a database highlighting forced labour risk areas and products. Based on risk assessments, investigations can be initiated by the Commission for cases involving forced labour outside the EU or by member states for violations within their jurisdictions.
Authorities in member states will collaborate to share information about suspected violations, ensuring coordinated action across the Union. Decisions to ban, withdraw, or dispose of such products will be taken by the authority leading the investigation, with these decisions applying EU-wide under the principle of mutual recognition.
The regulation will be signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council before its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will come into force the day after publication and will be enforceable three years later.
With an estimated 27.6 million people working in forced labour conditions worldwide, spanning various industries and continents, the EU’s regulation represents a significant step toward eliminating such practices. Most forced labour occurs in the private sector, though some cases involve public authorities.
The European Commission initially proposed the regulation on 14 September 2022. The Council adopted its negotiating position on 26 January 2024, leading to a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on 5 March 2024.
