India has updated its Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023 to prohibit the import of goods made using forced labor. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has introduced a new provision, Paragraph 2.20B, empowering the Central Government to ban imports of items produced through forced labor. These amendments will take effect 30 days after being published in the Official Gazette.
Under the revised policy, the import of goods manufactured with forced labor will be banned. The Central Government will be able to identify specific products for import restrictions based on investigations or other relevant information.
The notification outlines an inquiry mechanism where the DGFT will assess whether imported goods have been created through forced labor. If evidence confirms the use of forced labor, the DGFT may recommend prohibiting the import of such goods. This inquiry process will adhere to the procedures outlined in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
India has also defined “forced labor” under Chapter 11 of the FTP, aligning with the International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). Forced labor is described as work or service extracted from an individual under threat of penalty, without voluntary consent.
These changes aim to fortify India’s foreign trade policy by establishing a legal framework to restrict imports associated with forced labor, aligning the FTP with international labor standards. The notification, approved by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, was issued under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
