Does the E.U.’s new forced labor ban go far enough?
The European Union Council and the European Parliament recently reached a tentative agreement to prohibit the importation of goods produced using forced labor into the European single market, Reuters reports.
Key elements of E.U. ban
As the European Parliament communicated in a press release, the regulation proposes a comprehensive enforcement framework, including investigations into companies’ supply chains, the use of new IT solutions, and enhanced international cooperation. If forced labor is detected, implicated products must be removed from the E.U. market and can be confiscated, with options for donation, recycling, or destruction.
The regulation also involves creating a list of high-risk sectors and areas, demands for additional information for certain imports, and the establishment of a “Forced Labour Single Portal” for better enforcement and cooperation. The agreement now awaits final approval from the European Parliament and Council before its implementation, which will begin three years after entering into force.