ICI Briefing: Guidelines on the application of the EU Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market

On November 19, 2024, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted the EU Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market, which introduces a ban on placing, making available, or exporting products made with forced labour on or from the Union market. It was published in the EU’s Official Journal on December 12th 2024, which marks its enforcement, and will be applicable as of December 14th 2027 (see ICI’s summary).

To support its implementation, the European Commission published its Guidelines on the application of the FLR on June 30, 2026, as part of its “preparedness package and single portal”. These Guidelines address the competent authorities responsible for implementing the Regulation (which is the European Commission in cases of forced labour outside of the EU), customs authorities, economic operators, consumer associations, civil society organisations, trade unions and any other stakeholders.

This follows a call for evidence open between February 6th and March 6th 2026 (which received 160 contributions), and to which ICI contributed, based on its Recommendations for Guidelines on Due Diligence in relation to forced labour in the cocoa sector, developed in close collaboration with the European Cocoa Association (ECA) and through a multistakeholder consultation process.

This ICI Briefing provides an overview and summary of the Guidelines.