Forced Labour Prohibition Regulation – Council adopts the regulation

The EU Council on Tuesday 19 November, adopted the regulation prohibiting products in the Union market that are made using forced labour, concluding the legislative process for this regulation.

The Forced labour prohibition regulation creates a necessary framework on which to base legal action by Member States and the Commission to target products made with forced labour on the internal market.

The Commission will create a database of forced labour risk areas or products to support the work of the Members State competent authorities in assessing possible violations of this regulation.

Based on an assessment of possible risks, the Commission (in the case of the use of forced labour outside the EU) or member state authorities (in the case of the use of forced labour within their territory) may initiate an investigation.

The final decision (i.e. to ban, withdraw and dispose of a product made using forced labour) will be taken by the authority that led the investigation. The decision taken by a national authority will apply in all other member states, based on the principle of mutual recognition.

The Regulation must now be signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, whereupon it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the day following its publication.

It will apply 3 years after the date of entry into force.

More information: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/11/19/products-made-with-forced-labour-council-adopts-ban/

Contact: Lebo Mofolo, lmofolo@frucom.eu