Governance & Policy
EU Forced Labour Regulation
Definition
The EU Forced Labour Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2024/3015, prohibits the placing, making available and export of products made with forced labour, regardless of origin. Authorities investigate based on risk assessments, can order products withdrawn from the market and disposed of, and coordinate through a Union network and a forced labour product database.
References
Legal text, prohibition and investigation procedure
Definitions and global estimates
Overview
What it means
Forced labour becomes a market-access issue: tainted goods can be banned and removed across the entire EU, not just criticised.
How it is used
Companies deepen supply-chain traceability beyond tier one; customs and market-surveillance bodies prepare investigation procedures; importers assess high-risk regions.
Why it matters
It gives the EU an enforcement tool comparable to the US UFLPA approach and sharpens the commercial cost of forced labour in supply chains.
Review questions
What source or framework gives the term authority? What boundary or role is being described? What evidence would a reviewer need before relying on the term?