EU: Council adopts position on import ban for products made with forced labour
"Forced labour: Council adopts position to ban products made with forced labour on the EU market", 26 January 2024
The Council has today adopted its position (negotiating mandate) on the regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market...
The Council mandate clarifies the scope of the regulation by including products offered for distance sales, envisages the creation of a forced labour single portal, and reinforces the role of the Commission in investigating and proving the use of forced labour, while aligning the proposed measures with both international standards and EU legislation...
The mandate agreed today formalises the Council's negotiating position. It provides the Council presidency with a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament, which adopted its position on 8 November 2023. Interinstitutional negotiations will start as soon as possible...
Background
Around 27.6 million people are in forced labour around the world, in many industries and in every continent. Most forced labour takes place in the private economy, while some is imposed by public authorities.
The Commission proposed the regulation to prohibit products made with forced labour on the European market on 14 September 2022.
"We're pleased that the Council has reached its General Approach on the proposed #ForcedLabour regulation today. This law can improve the working conditions of millions worldwide. We will be analysing the text in advance of the final negotiations which are now set to start." pic.twitter.com/tA9WK3Yuj3
— Anti-Slavery International (@Anti_Slavery) January 26, 2024