TRAINING SESSION

Understanding and implementing EU Forced Labor Due Diligence Obligations
for EU and non-EU companies

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Forced labor and other human rights EU due diligence obligations are on a steady rise, with harsh consequences for those companies who fall foul of them.

Failure to comply with the detailed and wide-ranging human rights due diligence obligations of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive or CSDDD (which will apply as early as end of July 2028, including to non-EU companies with certain activities/turnover in the EU) can entail significant fines and other sanctions by EU regulatory bodies, damages claims, reputational damage as well as denial of access to the EU market. The CSDDD also affects companies that are business partners of an in-scope company, leading to similar obligations for them.

It is also of immense importance to start familiarizing yourself with the Forced Labor Products Regulation (FLR) which will apply to companies as early as December 2027. The FLR will prohibit the placing of products made with forced labor on the EU market, including all imported goods. Subject to narrowly scoped exceptions, products made by forced labor that are already on the EU market will need to be withdrawn from sale and either donated, recycled or destroyed.

Now is the time for your company to transform these regulatory requirements into opportunities for sustainable growth and responsible business practices. 

Audience
Board Members and executives,
policymakers, lawyers & lobbyists

Duration
Half day
(2-4 hours, depending on desired depth)

Format
Interactive workshop
(face-to-face recommended)

Materials provided
Training handbook
Access to additional resources and templates

Sample Agenda

This training is designed to foster engagement and interaction among participants, ensuring that they all leave with a clear understanding of the regulation and actionable insights for your company.

It can be adapted to your company’s individual needs as every training includes a video (call) to optimise the training. For an optimal learning effect, we recommend face-to-face training, however, trainings can also be held online.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • Overview of the agenda and objectives
  • Importance of aligning business practices with EU regulatory requirements
09:15 AM – 10:00 AM | Understanding EU Sustainability Due Diligence Obligations under the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
  • Scope and applicability
  • Key compliance obligations & proposed changes
  • Timeline for implementation & as per recent changes
  • Q&A and discussion: Identifying company-specific risks and challenges
10:00 AM – 10.45 AM | Forced Labour Products Regulation (FLR) Compliance
  • Key elements of the FLR and impact on supply chains
    • Prohibition on placing forced labor products on the EU market
    • Process for identifying and removing non-compliant goods
  • Interactive Discussion:
    • Steps to mitigate supply chain risks
    • Due diligence measures to identify and eliminate forced labor practices
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Coffee break
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Transforming Compliance into Business Opportunities
  • Integrating sustainability & responsible business practices into corporate strategy
    • Competitive advantages of ethical supply chains
    • Access to new markets and investor confidence
    • Aligning with global ESG expectations
  • Discussion: How to position compliance as a strategic advantage
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | Implementing a Compliance Roadmap
  • Creating an internal action plan
    • Immediate actions to assess current due diligence gaps
    • Medium-term steps for supplier engagement and monitoring
    • Long-term integration of sustainable business practices
  • Industry-specific challenges and best practices
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM | Executive Decision-Making and Next Steps
  • Discussion: Assigning responsibilities within the company
  • Action plan: Defining milestones and reporting mechanisms
  •  
12:45 PM – 1:00 PM | Closing Remarks
  • Summary of key takeaways 
  • Feedback and evaluation 
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Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen - EU law strategic advisor

The presenter

Dr Alexandra von Westernhagen benefits from over 20 years as an EU regulatory lawyer gained in seven jurisdictions (including Brussels, the UK & Germany), in international private practice, academia (e.g. MIT) & international organizations (European Commission & OECD).  

She is currently Partner & Head of EU Sustainability at Liberius Legal based in Brussels, the heart of the EU, as well as EU/Regulatory Partner at Keystone Law in London. She is also a Board member (Europe) of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL).

Alexandra regularly provides EU law overview & strategic implementation trainings to company boards and members of their organizations, including to Barclays, Sodexo, Royal Mail and many other EU and international companies, law firms, public sector organizations, universities and think tanks.

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