MEPs to vote on Parliament position banning products made with forced labour ahead of negotiations

Today from 19:00, MEPs will vote on the regulation on banning products made with forced labour from the EU market. The International Trade (INTA) and Internal Market (IMCO) Committees will vote on the European Parliament's report ahead of negotiations between the Parliament, the Council and the European Commission.

Anna Cavazzini MEP, Greens/EFA Shadow Rapporteur and Chair of the IMCO Committee, comments: 

"The law is a breakthrough in the fight against forced labour, which we Greens/EFA have long called for. The European Parliament is reinforcing the Commission’s proposal which is important for the 27 million victims of forced labour worldwide; for example, when it comes to remediation. It is also important for companies because this law will put an end to unfair competition and social dumping in the supply chains. 

“We need to ensure that special attention is paid to products from regions with state forced labour. No products from forced labour, such as those made in Xinjiang, should be sold in shops in the EU. We need this regulation to be as strong as possible to businesses and governments worldwide that forced labour is utterly unacceptable.”

Saskia Bricmont MEP, Greens/EFA Shadow Rapporteur in the INTA Committee, comments: 

“It is essential that we shut down any avenue for products made with forced labour to end up on the EU's market. EU-wide harmonised sanctions against forced labour and an enhanced role for the European Commission will make the implementation of the law easier for member states and companies.

“Now it is up to the Council to quickly find a position so that the EU can adopt the law before the end of the legislative period and ban products produced under forced labour from the European market."

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The joint session of the IMCO and INTA Committees can be followed live from 19:00 here.