Overview
The EU Forced Labour Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3015) prohibits products made wholly or partly with forced labour from being placed on, made available on, or exported from the EU market.
Unlike CSDDD, it is a product market-access ban rather than a corporate due-diligence duty of process. Competent authorities can investigate, order withdrawal/disposal, and impose penalties. The Commission adopted application guidelines on 26 June 2026 (C(2026) 4386) and launched the preparedness package and Forced Labour Single Portal on 30 June 2026; the guidelines were later published in the Official Journal as Commission Notice C/2026/4637 (3 September 2026).
For fashion brands, cotton, yarn, fabric and finished apparel originating in high-risk regions are priority exposure areas. Traceability evidence is central to reducing investigation risk.
Key requirements
- Do not place, make available or export products made with forced labour at any production stage.
- Respond to information requests and investigations from lead competent authorities within set deadlines.
- Withdraw and dispose of products subject to a violation decision.
- Maintain supply-chain mapping and due-diligence evidence aligned with OECD-style practices (as reinforced by Commission guidelines).
Who’s affected
All economic operators placing or making products available on the EU market or exporting from it, including fashion manufacturers, brands, importers, distributors and online marketplaces. There is no company-size threshold.
Timeline
13 December 2024
Regulation enters into force.
26 June 2026
Commission adopts application guidelines (C(2026) 4386).
30 June 2026
Commission launches preparedness package and Forced Labour Single Portal.
3 September 2026
Guidelines published in the Official Journal as Commission Notice C/2026/4637.
14 December 2026
Member States notify penalty frameworks to the Commission.
14 December 2027
Prohibition applies; investigations and market bans begin.
How Carbon Trail helps
How Carbon Trail can help
- Map which products, markets and legal entities fall in scope.
- Structure product, supplier and emissions data needed for disclosures and EPR reporting.
- Track timelines, owners and evidence gaps across overlapping fashion regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as CSDDD?
No. CSDDD is a corporate due-diligence directive for large companies. The Forced Labour Regulation is a product ban applying to all operators from December 2027.
