MEPs voted on Tuesday April 23 to ban products made from forced labor – China is in their sights – before another vote on Wednesday to ratify a “duty of vigilance” imposed on companies to protect the environment and human rights in their production chains.
The European Parliament and member state negotiators agreed at the beginning of March on legislation prohibiting the marketing in the European Union of products resulting from forced labor, which could concern Chinese production involving the Uighur Muslim minority. The text was adopted by an overwhelming majority (555 votes for, 6 against, 45 abstentions) in plenary session, before the final formal confirmation of the States.
“Europe cannot export its values while importing products resulting from forced labor. The fact that the EU finally has a law to ban these products is one of the biggest successes of this mandate”underlined socialist MEP Maria-Manuel Leitao-Marques, co-rapporteur of the text.
Investigations launched in the event of suspicion
For certain products deemed to be at risk, importers will have to provide detailed information on the manufacturers. Above all, Brussels will create an updated database and establish a list of sectors affected by forced labor imposed by the State in specific regions: a key criterion for opening an investigation.
This could concern the Chinese region of Xinjiang. Indeed, several Western countries have condemned the practice of massive forced labor carried out by the Chinese government against the Uighur minority, which Beijing disputes. A law adopted at the end of 2021 by the American Congress prohibits the importation of products from Xinjiang into the United States, unless companies can prove that their production does not include forced labor.
” Victory ! »threw, onMEP Raphaël Glucksmann, head of the list of French socialists in the European elections. “It is the culmination of four years of citizen mobilization and political combat against the enslavement of the Uighurs, then long months of negotiations”he added.
Forced labor affected 27.6 million people worldwide in 2021, including 3.3 million children, according to the International Labor Organization.
According to the text, the European Commission will launch investigations in the event of suspicions in supply chains in third countries. If the use of forced labor is proven (the decision will be taken by a committee bringing together the Twenty-Seven), the products will be seized at the borders and will have to be withdrawn from the European market like online platforms.
If the risk concerns an EU member state, national authorities will lead the investigation. “Essential or strategic goods may however be retained (and not destroyed) until the company eliminates forced labor from its supply chains”specify the legislators.