NEWS | Industry Updates


EU set to ban products, including cocoa, made with forced labour


The European Union Internal Market and International Trade committees has adopted its position on keeping products made using forced labour out of the EU market. The draft regulation would put in place a framework to investigate the use of forced labour in companies’ supply chains. If it is proven that a company has used forced labour, all import and export of the related goods would be halted at the EU’s borders and companies would also have to withdraw goods that have already reached the EU market. These would then be donated, recycled or destroyed.


Reversal of burden of proof in high-risk cases MEPs amended the Commission proposal to task the Commission with creating a list of geographical areas and economic sectors at high risk of using forced labour. For goods produced in these high-risk areas, the authorities would no longer need to prove that people have been forced to work, as the burden of proof would fall on companies.


Remediation and wider definitions The committees also want goods that have been removed from the market to be allowed back on only after the company demonstrates it has stopped using forced labour in its operations or supply chain and remedied any relevant cases. MEPs have also updated and widened the definitions used in the text. Particularly, the definition of forced labour would be aligned to


International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards and include “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 or herself voluntarily”. Co-rapporteur Samira Rafaela said: “Forced labour is a grave human rights violation. The ban that we have voted for today will be essential in blocking products made using modern slavery and taking away the economic incentive for companies to engage in forced labour. It will protect whistle-blowers, provide remedy to victims, and defend our businesses and SMEs from unethical competition. Our text includes strong provisions on a database and is gender-responsive, all key elements for sustained impact.” After the vote, co-rapporteur Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques said: “27.6 million workers worldwide suffer from forced labour, a kind of modern slavery – we should dedicate this victory to them. We have ensured that products made with forced labour are banned from the internal market until workers are compensated for the harm done to them. Banning forced labour also protects companies who follow the rules from unfair competition. Finally, we make it easier to prove state-imposed forced labour.”


• Earlier this year the EU brought in a new law to fight global


deforestation effectively putting the cocoa sector, among others, on notice they need to ensure products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation and forest degradation.


The products covered by this legislation include cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya as well as products that have been made using these commodities.


Shaping the future of automation in the hospitality industry


Rhea used the Italy-based trade event HOST to replicate several settings typical of the hospitality sector to showcases its product offering.. This included the likes of a stylish lounge


integrating design solutions to create a contemporary, interactive setting that enhances the pleasure and quality of the coffee break. Rhea intended to demonstrate a fusion between the world of coffee and automation for the Ho.Re.Ca segment. Visitors had the opportunity to explore


the latest superautomatic models, the rhTT3 and rhTT1, which offers the versatility of creating drinks with fresh or non-dairy milk, thanks to the innovative rhMM2.v+ milk machine. Also presented was the free- standing rhFS1 and rhFS2.touch32. Host was also the platform for launching


Rhea’s new campaign, which tells the story of the company’s values. The new campaign juxtaposes human faces and a coffee cup that evokes the Rhea logo, symbolising the company’s ability to work with a vision that is open to the future. Visitors also had the chance to taste the


wide range of coffee varietals and roasts offered at the coffee corners distributed around the stand, as well as recipes for


6 | vendinginternational-online.com


coffee drinks and cocktails created by coffee expert Andrea Lattuada and Marco Poidomani, the Italian champion of ‘Coffee in Good Spirits’, who entertained the audience with live demonstrations.


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