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Forced Labour Regulation

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Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 establishes a comprehensive framework to eliminate products made with forced labour from the EU market. It includes provisions for investigations, enforcement, and cooperation among Member States and the European Commission to ensure compliance.​

This regulation applies regardless of the product's origin, industry, or value. The definition of forced labour aligns with the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 29, encompassing all work or service exacted under the menace of any penalty and not voluntarily offered.

Key Objectives: -> The regulation adopts the definition of forced labour as per the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 29, encompassing all work or service exacted under the menace of any penalty and not voluntarily offered. -> Member States are required to designate competent authorities responsible for the enforcement of this regulation. These authorities will assess and investigate potential violations, with the European Commission acting as the lead authority for cases involving forced labour outside the EU. -> Investigations can be initiated based on a substantiated concern that a product was made with forced labour. If a violation is confirmed, authorities can order the withdrawal of the product from the market, prohibit its placement or export, and mandate its disposal. Decisions made by one Member State's authority are recognized and enforced across all Member States. -> The European Commission will provide guidelines to assist economic operators, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in complying with the regulation. A publicly accessible database identifying high-risk areas and products associated with forced labour will also be established.

Enforcement Mechanism: -> Each Member State must designate one or more competent authorities by 14 December 2025 to enforce the regulation. The European Commission will act as the lead authority for cases involving forced labour outside the EU. -> Authorities will adopt a risk-based approach, considering factors such as the scale and severity of suspected forced labour, the quantity of products on the EU market, and the complexity of the supply chain. -> If a violation is confirmed, authorities can order the withdrawal of products from the market, prohibit their placement or export, and mandate their disposal. Decisions made by one Member State's authority are recognized and enforced across all Member States.

Supporting Documents: -> By 14 June 2026, the European Commission will issue guidelines to assist economic operators and authorities. These will cover due diligence, risk indicators, best practices for remediation, and support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ​ -> A publicly accessible database identifying high-risk areas and products associated with forced labour will be established to aid in assessments and investigations. -> The Commission will create an online portal providing access to the database, guidelines, and information on enforcement actions.

Economic operators are expected to conduct due diligence to ensure their products are free from forced labour. Member States will establish penalties for non-compliance, which may include fines and other administrative measures. The regulation emphasizes the importance of remediation, encouraging companies to address and rectify instances of forced labour in their supply chains.

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Pillars

GovernanceSocial

Audience

BusinessStates

Applicable Area

EU

Categories

Human Rights and Labour Practices

Regulation (EU) 2024/3015

Timeline
  • Proposed
    Sep 14, 2022
  • Approved
    Apr 23, 2023
  • Adopted
    Nov 27, 2024
  • Published
    Dec 12, 2024
  • In Force
    Dec 13, 2024
  • In Application
    Dec 14, 2027
-> 14 December 2025: EU Member States must designate one or more "competent authorities" to enforce the Regulation.
-> 14 June 2026: European Commission must publish: Guidelines on due diligence practices and enforcement for companies and authorities & Forced Labour Database listing geographic areas, products, and industries at high risk of forced labour.
-> 14 December 2027: Full application begins — prohibition on placing/exporting forced-labour products takes effect.
-> 14 December 2029: European Commission must submit a review report on the Regulation’s enforcement and effectiveness.

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Documents & Attachments

General Information

Forced labour products
EnglishInformation
Q&A
EnglishQ&A

Regulatory Instruments

Supportive Documents

Factsheet: Forced Labour Product Ban1.72 MB
EnglishSupportive document