The EU's Regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market, adopted in November 2024 and published in the Official Journal in December 2024, is moving towards full application by the end of 2027, with the European Commission publishing implementation guidance to help companies prepare.

What supply chain managers need to know:

- The Regulation empowers authorities to investigate, ban and withdraw products where forced labour is found anywhere in the value chain.
- Companies selling into the EU will need to demonstrate due diligence over their supply chains, including evidence of recruitment practices, working conditions and remediation.
- Investigations can start from complaints, media reports or risk-based screening — proactive preparation matters more than reactive defence.

For Chinese exporters and their suppliers, the practical response is to strengthen labour management systems now: verified recruitment documentation, working-hour and wage records, grievance mechanisms and audit readiness. CSER Solutions provides social compliance audits and due diligence preparation aligned with international standards to help you stay ahead of these requirements.