PVTIME – European Commission has released a proposal on prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market on September 14, 2022.
The proposal targets no specific companies or industries, yet covers all products as the European Commission considered to be comprehensively estimated that 27.6 million people are in forced labour in many industries and in every continent. Once it becomes a law, the EU customs authorities will identify and ban forced labour products at the borders while relevant products in the EU market will be withdrawn.
“This proposal will make a real difference in tackling modern-day slavery, which affects millions of people around the globe. Our aim is to eliminate all products made with forced labour from the EU market, irrespective of where they have been made. Our ban will apply to domestic products, exports and imports alike. Competent authorities and customs will work hand-in-hand to make the system robust. We have sought to minimise the administrative burden for businesses, with a tailor-made approach for SMEs. We will also further deepen our cooperation with our global partners and with international organisations.” said Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade.
“In today’s geopolitics, we need both secure and sustainable supply chains. We cannot maintain a model of consumption of goods produced unsustainably. Being industrial and technological leaders presupposes being more assertive in defending our values and in setting our rules and standards. Our Single Market is a formidable asset to prevent products made with forced labour from circulating in the EU, and a lever to promote more sustainability across the globe.” said Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market.
The proposal will be discussed and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before it can enter into force which will apply 24 months after its entry into force.
