European Commission proposes to ban items made with forced labor

The European Commission recently offered to ban products made with forced labor in the European Union (EU) market. The proposal covers all products, namely those produced in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries. EU customs authorities will identify and stop these products at borders.

The proposal builds on internationally agreed definitions and standards and stresses the importance of close cooperation with global partners.

National authorities will be empowered to withdraw products produced by forced labor from the EU market, following an investigation.

The European Commission has proposed to ban products made by forced labor from the European Union (EU) market. The proposal covers all products, namely those produced in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries. EU customs authorities will identify and stop these products at borders

“Competent authorities and customs will work hand in hand to make the system robust. We have sought to minimize the administrative burden for companies, with a tailor-made approach for SMEs [small and medium enterprises]. We will also deepen our cooperation with our global partners and with international organisations,” Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said in a Commission statement.

National authorities in Member States will enforce the ban through a strong, risk-based enforcement approach.

In a preliminary phase, they will assess the risks of forced labor based on many different sources of information which together should facilitate the identification of risks and help to focus their efforts.

These can include submissions from civil society, a database of forced labor risks focused on specific products and geographies, and the due diligence companies carry out.

The authorities will open investigations into products for which there are well-founded suspicions that they were manufactured with forced labour. They can request information from companies and carry out checks and inspections, including in countries outside the EU.

If the national authorities find forced labour, they will order the withdrawal of the products already placed on the market and prohibit the placing of the products on the market and their export. Companies will be required to dispose of the goods.

The Commission will also publish guidelines within 18 months of the entry into force of this regulation.

The proposal must now be discussed and approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before it can enter into force. It will apply 24 months after its entry into force.

Fibre2Fashion (DS) News Desk


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