Introduction of the New EU Law
The European Parliament has approved a new law aimed at eliminating products with links to forced labor and human rights abuses from the EU market. The law, passed with overwhelming support, targets imports and exports tainted by modern slavery.
Key Features of the Legislation
The law will allow national authorities to investigate products suspected of being produced through forced labor. If found guilty, these products will be banned from entering the EU market. Companies failing to comply with the regulations will face fines determined by member states.
While the law applies to products globally, it is particularly directed at countries like Turkmenistan and China, where forced labor practices have been documented. The European Commission can initiate probes into suspected cases of forced labor in products originating from outside the EU.
Moreover, the regulation mandates that products already on the EU market and identified as products of forced labor must be disposed of through donation, recycling, or destruction. This law is a significant step in addressing the prevalence of forced labor in supply chains and protecting consumers.
“This is good news for consumers, and also for European companies, which are currently suffering from imports dumping from regions with forced labor,” said Green MEP Anna Cavazzini.
The legislation comes in response to a rise in forced labor cases globally, with an estimated 28 million people involved in forced labor generating billions of dollars annually. Recent reports have highlighted the use of forced labor in Chinese detention camps and its connection to major European clothing brands.