EU to Ban Forced Labor Products by 2027 in Sweeping Supply Chain Reform
The European Union will implement a comprehensive ban on products made with forced labor starting December 2027 under its newly enacted Forced Labor Regulation, HRW reported. Announced through a joint statement by Human Rights Watch and Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute, this landmark legislation mandates all companies operating in the EU market to thoroughly audit and eliminate forced labor practices from their supply chains.
The regulation establishes a dual enforcement mechanism where EU member states will investigate potential violations within their territories, while the European Commission handles cases involving non-EU countries, with particular focus on regions known for state-imposed forced labor such as China’s Xinjiang province, Turkmenistan, and North Korea. To support compliance efforts, the EU will launch a centralized risk database identifying high-risk geographic areas and industrial sectors.
This legislative move responds to alarming International Labour Organization statistics showing forced labor generates $63.9 billion in annual profits while exploiting 17.3 million workers worldwide. The regulation complements existing EU supply chain accountability measures, though some uncertainty remains due to ongoing revisions to the 2024 Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
“With less than three years until full implementation, businesses must immediately begin strengthening their due diligence processes,” advised Hélène de Rengervé, Human Rights Watch’s senior EU corporate accountability advocate. The regulation represents the EU’s most ambitious effort yet to eradicate forced labor from global supply chains while creating a level playing field for ethical businesses.
