On 6 February 2026, the European Commission launched a four-week Call for Evidence on draft guidelines under the EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR). Stakeholders have until 6 March 2026 to provide input.
The FLR, which entered into force in December 2024 and will apply from 14 December 2027, prohibits products made with forced labour from being placed on, made available in, or exported from the EU market.
Under Article 11 of the Regulation, the Commission must issue implementation guidelines by 14 June 2026. Although the guidelines will not create new legal obligations, they will clarify the Commission’s expectations on due diligence standards and evidentiary thresholds.
Who the guidelines are for
The Commission will issue guidelines for:
- Competent and customs authorities – including guidance on investigations, risk analysis and the calculation of financial penalties.
- Economic operators (companies) – including forced labour due diligence and how to engage with the Commission and national authorities.
- Civil society organisations and victims – including how to submit information on potential breaches of the ban.
Consultation questions
The Commission is seeking feedback on the following questions:
- What are the main types of evidence that should be considered by the Commission and competent authorities during the investigative process?
- What are the main types of documentation that economic operators could provide in the preliminary phase of the investigation?
- What types of documentation and evidence should stakeholders provide when submitting information on alleged cases of forced labour?
- What are the best practices for conducting forced-labour-related due diligence (including identifying, assessing and preventing the risks of forced labour as well as bringing forced labour to an end) across product groups or economic sectors?
- What best practices can be used for remediating forced labour and the harm caused by an economic operator?
- In addition to the guidelines, what complementary resources (e.g. FAQs) would be helpful in understanding and complying with the Regulation? The guidelines will be non-binding guidance and will not create new legal obligations.
Contact DDD’s legal analyst, Jasmin Hansohm, Jasmin.Hansohm@duediligence.design to learn more about the EU FLR and how to prepare your business.