EU Market To Prohibit Import Or Sale Of Forced Labour Goods
The European Parliament has given its final approval to a new regulation enabling the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour.
Member state authorities and the European Commission will be able to investigate suspicious goods, supply chains, and manufacturers.
If a product is deemed to have been made using forced labour, it will no longer be possible to sell it on the EU market which also includes online sales and shipments will be intercepted at the EU’s borders.
Decisions to investigate will be based on factual and verifiable information that can be received from, for example, international organisations, cooperating authorities and whistle-blowers.
Several risk factors and criteria will be taken into account, including the prevalence of state-imposed forced labour in certain economic sectors and geographic areas.
Manufacturers of banned goods will have to withdraw their products from the EU single market and donate, recycle or destroy them.
Non-compliant companies could be fined. The goods may be allowed back on the EU single market once the company eliminates forced labour from its supply chains.
“Globally 28 million people are trapped in hands of human traffickers and states who force them to work for little or no pay,” Rapporteur for Internal Market committee, Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques said.
“Europe cannot export its values while importing products made with forced labour,” Leitão-Marques added.
“The fact that the EU finally has a law to ban these products is one of the biggest achievements of this mandate, and a victory for progressive forces,” she stated.
“This is a historic day. We have adopted a ground-breaking piece of legislation to combat forced labour worldwide,” Rapporteur for the International Trade committee, Samira Rafaela too said.
“This regulation fosters EU and international cooperation, shifts power from exploiters to consumers and employees, and offers possibilities for remedy for victims,” Rafaela also added.
The regulation was adopted with 555 votes in favour, 6 votes against and 45 abstentions. The text will now get a formal approval from the EU Council and EU countries will have to start applying it in 3 years.
