"EU Council approves Forced Labour Regulation, EJF calls for robust implementation," 19 November 2024

Today marks a significant step forward in the fight against forced labour, as the Council of the European Union formally adopts the Forced Labour Regulation (FLR). The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) welcomes this historic decision, which places human rights at the forefront of EU trade and supply chain policies.

This Regulation empowers authorities to remove products tainted by forced labour from the EU market, ensuring that Europe does not contribute to the exploitation of the estimated 27.6 million people trapped in forced labour worldwide. It is a critical move towards aligning trade with the EU’s commitment to human rights and ethical governance...

"Today, Member States have shown their determination to stand against one of the gravest violations of human dignity. Consumers deserve assurances that the products they buy are not tainted with abuse and exploitation,” said Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of EJF. “However, passing this Regulation is only the first step. The true test lies in how swiftly and ambitiously it is implemented. Failure to act decisively, including through the allocation of sufficient resources in delivering product bans, would mean ongoing impunity for exploitative companies."...