India Prohibits the Import of Goods Produced Using Forced Labour

On July 13, 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, issued a notification amending the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit the import of goods produced or manufactured using forced labour. This prohibition will come into effect 30 days after its publication in the Official Gazette (July 14, 2026), taking effect on August 13, 2026.

The definition of “forced labour” aligns with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Forced Labour Convention, defined as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily”.

Key amendments and requirements include:

• The import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, using forced labour is prohibited.
• The government will notify and specify additional restricted goods based on findings from enquiries or other materials.
• Specific procedures for conducting enquiries into forced labour by the DGFT will be prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.

The original notification can be accessed at the following URL:

• Prohibition on Import of Goods Produced Using Forced Labour.
  https://egazette.gov.in/writeReadData/2026/274548.pdf