On November 19, 2024, the Council of the European Union (EU) issued a press release announcing the official adoption of a regulation that prohibits the sale, distribution, or export of products made using forced labour within the EU.
The regulation will create the “necessary framework” to investigate and target products made with forced labour “on the internal market”. According to the press release, the [European] Commission will establish a database of risk areas “to support the work of competent authorities in assessing possible violations.”
The regulation will come into effect three years after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, following the signatures of the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council.
The full press release can be found here:
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/11/19/products-made-with-forced-labour-council-adopts-ban/
