Forced Labour Regulation (FLR)
The European Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) prohibits businesses from making products available on the European Union (EU) market that have been made using forced labour. Businesses are also banned from exporting such products from the EU. This includes products made using forced child labour. The FLR applies to all businesses, sectors and products, regardless of where the products are made. The rules will apply from 14 December 2027. Businesses can prepare by carrying out due diligence.
What does the FLR entail?
Forced labour is all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily. The FLR was introduced to combat forced labour. It also helps counter unfair competition: some businesses currently use forced labour to make an unfair profit.
Who does this law apply to?
This law applies to all products and all businesses in all economic sectors. This includes products sold via e-commerce. Services are excluded.
How does the FLR work?
Suspicions of forced labour are investigated by the lead competent authority. Which body is the lead competent authority depends on where the forced labour happened or is happening:
- Outside the EU
The European Commission will investigate possible cases of forced labour outside the EU and adopt decisions.
- Within the EU
Each member state will designate a competent authority to investigate possible cases of forced labour in that member state and adopt decisions. Each member state must also designate an authority to withdraw products from the market.
- The Netherlands has not yet designated these authorities. It has already been decided that Customs will play a role at the border in stopping products made using forced labour from entering the country.
The competent authority launches a risk-based investigation looking at the following assessment criteria:
- the scale and severity of the suspected forced labour;
- the quantity or volume of products placed or made available on the EU market;
- the share of the part of the product made with forced labour in the final product;
- how close businesses are to the suspected forced labour in their supply chain, and the leverage they have to end or mitigate the use of forced labour.
During the investigation phase, businesses must comply with requests from the lead competent authority. A business may, for example, be asked to demonstrate how it applies due diligence in relation to forced labour. On the basis of the information provided, the competent authority will decide whether there are grounds to continue the investigation.
The lead competent authority establishes whether or not products were made using forced labour.
The competent authority enforces the decision within its own member state. The customs authorities stop the products concerned from entering the country. Once a business has eliminated forced labour from its operations and supply chain, its products will once again be admitted to the EU market.
The factsheet and flowchart below provide additional information on the FLR. These documents can be downloaded.
How to prepare?
- Carry out due diligence. See:
This is the best way to identify, reduce and tackle the risk of forced labour in the supply chain.
- Read the guidelines for businesses, which the European Commission will publish by 14 June 2026. These guidelines will set out what due diligence involves in relation to forced labour, the risk indicators of forced labour and best practices for ending and remediating forced labour.
- The European Commission is creating a public database of high-risk products and regions. This will help businesses set due diligence priorities.
- The report entitled Assessing Forced Labour Risks in Dutch Imports can serve as a starting point.
- Speak to the advisers at RVO’s RBC helpdesk (Dutch page). They can provide tailored advice for your business.
- Participate in the sectoral partnerships programme, which helps businesses carry out due diligence.
When do the rules start to apply?
- The FLR entered into force on 13 December 2024.
- The rules will apply to all businesses from 14 December 2027.
- The European Commission will publish the specific guidelines and launch the database of high-risk products and regions by 14 June 2026. This page will be updated when they are available.
More information?
More information about the FLR is available online. Below are a number of relevant links.
The advisors at the RBC Helpdesk will help you with tailored advice for your company. We will also answer your questions, for example, about CSRD and CSDDD.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
