Sports & Fitness Industry Association Applauds Initiation of New Forced Labor Law

The use of forced labor in consumer goods is “unacceptable,” according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), which today highlighted its support of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

SFIA also applauded the initiation of Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) seizures of imports suspected of using forced labor in the supply chain.

“There is no tolerance for forced labor in supply chains for sports and fitness products,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “This is an important step in the fight to end the use of forced labor in the manufacturing of products and their inputs.”

In response to the use of forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, Congress passed the UFLPA and the President signed it into law on December 21, 2021. The new law went into effect on June 21, 2022, to allow time for manufacturers to ensure their products did not have forced labor in the supply chains. CBP will seize imports suspected of violating the new law, and the importer must prove that no forced labor was used in the production of the goods or any of its inputs.

SFIA members have “taken internal steps to root out forced labor in their supply chains and remain dedicated to ending the use of forced labor. Our members look forward to providing consumers with fair labor and active lifestyle products for improved health and a better quality of life,” according to SFIA.

“Of course, the current challenges facing our national economy could create headwinds,” Cove added. “The global supply chain is not yet fixed, and we are monitoring how inflation may affect consumer behavior in the future.”