The European Parliament has given its final approval to a
new regulation enabling the European Union 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,
according to a press release forwarded by the European Parliament on Tuesday.
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 (including
online) 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.
Rapporteur for the Internal Market committee, Maria-Manuel
Leitão-Marques (S&D, PT) said: “Today, worldwide, 28 million people are
trapped in the hands of human traffickers and states who force them to work for
little or no pay. Europe cannot export its values while importing products made
with forced labour. 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.”
Rapporteur for the International Trade committee, Samira
Rafaela (Renew, NL) said: “This is a historic day. We have adopted a
ground-breaking piece of legislation to combat forced labour worldwide. This
regulation fosters EU and international cooperation, shifts power from
exploiters to consumers and employees, and offers possibilities for remedy for
victims. It also transforms trade policies into a greener and fairer future.”
The regulation was adopted with 555 votes in favour, 6 votes
against and 45 abstentions. The text now has to get a final formal approval
from the EU Council. It will then be published in the Official Journal. EU
countries will have to start applying it in 3 years.