Brussels – The EU Council of Ministers today adopted a regulation banning the placing and making available on the Union market—or export from the Union market—of products obtained by the use of forced labour.
Investigate forced labour and combat it
The regulation creates the framework to base legal action aimed at countering products obtained through forced labour on the internal market. The Commission will establish a database of areas or products at risk of forced labour to support the work of competent authorities in assessing possible regulation violations. Based on an assessment of possible risks, the Commission (in the case of forced labour outside the EU) or member state authorities (in the case of using forced labour on their territory) may initiate an investigation.
Approximately 27.6 million people work in forced labour conditions worldwide, in many sectors and every continent. Most forced labour occurs in the private sector, while in some cases, it is imposed by public authorities.
Member state authorities should share information with other member states if they suspect regulation violations elsewhere in the European Union or share information with the Commission if they suspect the use of forced labour in a third country. The final decision (i.e., prohibition, recall, and disposal of a product obtained through forced labour) will be made by the authority that directed the investigation. The decision taken by a national authority will apply in all other member states based on the principle of mutual recognition.
After the next signature by the president of the European Parliament and the president of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will enter into force the day after publication. It will apply three years after the date of its entry into force.
