Forced labour ban: what happens at the border, and when
From 14 December 2027 customs will stop goods only on a decision naming them, destroy what is refused, and send the bill to the declarant or the importer depending on which customs code applies that day
The EU ban on products made with forced labour applies from 14 December 2027. The Commission's guidelines on how it will work were published on 3 September 2026. Nothing in your declarations changes yet, because customs act only once an authority has taken a decision naming particular products and suppliers, and no decision exists. One thing is worth starting now: knowing your products well enough to say not just where their inputs come from, but who made them and at which sites. That is what an authority will ask, and it is the only preparation that cannot be done quickly.
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