Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
52. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures in place to ensure that materials from labour camps in Xinjiang in China are restricted for entry to Ireland and the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8208/26]
View answerRegulation (EU) 2024/3015 prohibits the placing and making available of products made with forced labour on the EU market, as well as their export from the EU, regardless of the origin, sector, or company involved. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024 and will apply from December 2027. Ireland is fully committed to implementing this Regulation and is actively preparing to meet its obligations under the new framework.
Under the Regulation, the European Commission will lead investigations into products suspected of being made with forced labour outside the EU, while National Competent Authorities in each Member State will be responsible for cases within the EU.
My department, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, is leading preparations for implementation. This includes collaboration with relevant bodies to ensure effective enforcement at the border and within the internal market.
This includes the designation in December 2025, under the European Union (Prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market)(Designation of Competent Authorities) Regulation 2025, of Ireland's National Competent Authorities under the regulation, the Workplace Relations Commission and relevant Market Surveillance Authorities. They will have primary responsibility for enforcing the prohibition on products made with forced labour in this country.
My Department and the Workplace Relations Commission are also providing Ireland's representation on the EU's Union Network against Forced Labour Products, which is meeting on an ongoing basis to prepare for the regulation's full implementation.
