On May 11, 2023, Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the Act), received Royal Assent. The Act aims to increase awareness and transparency by requiring “certain government institutions and private-sector entities to report on the measures taken to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains.”

Additionally, the Act amends the “Customs Tariff to allow for a prohibition on the importation of goods manufactured or produced, in whole or in part, by forced labour or child labour.”

Bill S-211 is expected to begin enforcement on January 1, 2024, with the first annual report due May 31, 2024.

The Public Safety Canada Notice covering Bill S-211 can be found here:
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/frcd-lbr-cndn-spply-chns/index-en.aspx

Bill S-211 can be found in its entirety here:
https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-211/third-reading