European Commission opens first investigation under the Forced Labour Regulation

The EU's product ban regime sees its first formal investigation, targeting imported PVC gloves after submissions from civil society investigators.

The European Commission has opened the first formal investigation under the Forced Labour Regulation, examining medical glove imports following documented evidence of passport retention and excessive overtime at manufacturing sites.

Unlike the US regime, the EU ban requires goods found to be made with forced labour to be withdrawn from the market and disposed of — a substantially higher commercial stake for importers.