EU Regulation on products made with forced labour
A European regulation that prohibits placing and making available on the EU market, or exporting from the EU market, products made with forced labour. Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 published on 13 December 2024.
Context
The EU Forced Labour Regulation prohibits placing and making available on the EU market, or exporting from the EU market, products made with forced labour. It applies to any economic operator with no size threshold.
Regulatory origin
Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 Nov 2024 (CELEX 32024R3015), published in OJEU L of 13 Dec 2024. Entry into force 13 Dec 2024.
Operating system of the Regulation
A central Commission database with regions/sectors of identified forced-labour risk.
Investigations by competent national authorities into suspect products.
Reversed burden of proof in high-risk areas · the company must demonstrate the absence of forced labour.
Timeline
Regulation adopted
Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 approved by Parliament and Council.
Entry into force
Publication in OJEU L · immediate entry into force.
Full application
30 months after entry into force · central database operational.
Applied case
A textile brand sourcing cotton in risk regions (Xinjiang, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) prepares its Forced Labour due diligence.
Risk map: cross-references the origin of the cotton with the Commission's central database (when available).
Chain audit: requests evidence from the Better Cotton Initiative + independent interviews with local cooperatives.
Enhanced due diligence: for high-risk origins, prepares a dossier with robust evidence of the absence of forced labour.
Exit plan: alternative origins (Pakistan, India, Spain) to gradually replace higher-risk origins.
Common mistakes
It is not the same as the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
The UFLPA presumes forced labour in products with a Xinjiang origin and requires the company to prove otherwise. The EU regulation is geographically neutral but with a database of high-risk regions.
Having a signed code of conduct does not exempt you.
The regulation requires verifiable documentary evidence, not signatures on a code of conduct with no auditing system behind it.
It does not overlap exactly with the CSDDD.
The CSDDD is a general due-diligence system with civil liability. The Forced Labour Regulation is a specific prohibition with suspension of marketing. Complying with the CSDDD helps but does not exempt you.
It does not only affect large brands.
It applies to any economic operator that markets in the EU market, regardless of size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EU Forced Labour Regulation?
Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 Nov 2024 (CELEX 32024R3015). Under Art. 1: it prohibits economic operators from placing and making available on the Union market, or exporting from the Union market, products made with forced labour.
Who does the Forced Labour Regulation apply to?
To any economic operator that markets or exports products on the EU market — with no size or sector threshold. It applies to textile brands that import from regions with an identified risk of forced labour (including the Xinjiang region per UN OHCHR 2022 reports).
How do you comply with the Forced Labour Regulation?
In accordance with the operating system: (i) a central Commission database with risk regions/sectors, (ii) investigations by competent national authorities, (iii) reversed burden of proof in high-risk areas (the company must demonstrate the absence of forced labour). Additionally: alignment with the CSDDD to avoid duplication.
When does the Forced Labour Regulation enter into force?
Full application 30 months after the entry into force of the Regulation (~Jun 2027). During the transitional period the central database is set up, national authorities are appointed and operational guidance is published. Companies should prepare multi-tier traceability from 2026.
What is the difference between the Forced Labour Regulation and the CSDDD?
The Forced Labour Regulation directly prohibits products made with forced labour (a specific regime, a commercial prohibition). The CSDDD requires cross-cutting due diligence on human rights and the environment (a general regime, conduct). Forced Labour requires a result (not marketing); the CSDDD requires a process (verifying and remediating).
Fuentes oficiales
- European Parliament · European Council · OJEU L of 12.12.202427 nov 2024regulation
- International Labour Organization (ILO)2024-2026standard
- EUR-Lex · Publications Office of the European Union2024database
