On 1 December 2024, the BBC published an in-depth investigation revealing that certain products marketed as made from “Italian” tomatoes in UK and German supermarkets were, in reality, sourced from tomatoes grown and harvested in China.
The investigation alleges that a total of 17 products, most of them own-brand items sold in UK and German retailers, may have been produced using forced labour from the Xinjiang region, an area known for documented human rights abuses against the Uyghur and other Turkic and Muslim populations.
This case brings into sharp focus the implications of the recently adopted EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR), which is set to take effect in 2027. With the regulation addressing products connected to forced labour, it raises important questions on enforcement and scope, particularly in comparison to other laws such as the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
To better understand the EU’s approach to tackling forced labour in supply chains, take a look at our latest factsheet on the EU FLR.
Link to the BBC investigation: https://lnkd.in/dE4nY8zQ
View the Factsheet:
