Forced Labour Regulation: ban on placing, selling or exporting products made with forced labour
What changes
Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 bans placing products made with forced labour on the EU market, making them available, or exporting them, anywhere along the supply chain. National authorities and the Commission can investigate suspected products and order withdrawal, donation, recycling or destruction. There is no company-size exemption — only extra guidance and a dedicated SME contact point.
Who is affected
Any business that places products on the EU market or exports from it — manufacturers, importers and distributors of any size — with the highest practical exposure for importers sourcing from regions or sectors with documented forced-labour risk.
Sizes: micro, small, medium, large · Sectors: All sectors · Applies if: We import goods into the EU; We export outside the EU
What to do
Map your supply chain for forced-labour risk, especially raw materials and first-tier suppliers in higher-risk regions or sectors. Set up a due-diligence and complaints process so you can respond to a Commission or customs information request. Keep supplier audits, certifications and contracts on file, and watch for the Commission's risk-indicators database and SME guidance.
Penalty
Withdrawal, and destruction, recycling or donation of non-compliant products, plus denial of market access; no EU-wide turnover-based fine is set, but Member States must set effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties.
Sources
- EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 on prohibiting products made with forced labour (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- European Commission – Forced Labour Regulation (single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu)
Last verified 8 September 2026. Informational only, not legal advice.