In this article, we examine the potential impact on organisations managing global supply chains of the recent Court of Appeal judgement in the case against the National Crime Agency (NCA) brought by the World Uyghur Congress...more
In this week’s edition we discuss the implications of a decision against the National Crime Agency, which the UK’s Court of Appeal held had misinterpreted the law when it refused to investigate whether imported cotton was...more
On 27 June 2024, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in World Uyghur Congress v National Crime Agency [2024] EWCA Civ 715. The challenge of a 2023 decision by the High Court was brought by World Uyghur Congress ("WUC")...more
Why is this case important? The case challenged a decision by the National Crime Agency (“NCA”) not to carry out investigations into whether consignments of cotton goods were the product of alleged forced labour and/or other...more
Introduction Potential criminal activity in international supply chains can create reputational, civil, and criminal risks. This can be particularly difficult to manage when there are many links in a chain from the source of...more
A recent English court ruling has shed light on the approach of UK enforcement authorities to the question of money laundering risks where there is potential forced labour / modern slavery in a supply chain. The ruling will...more
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK has indicated a willingness to investigate companies that import goods made or assembled by forced labourers on the grounds that those products may constitute the proceeds of crime....more
On 20 January 2023, the High Court in London issued a historic judgment in relation to the World Uyghur Congress’ (WUC) challenge to the UK government’s failure to investigate the importation of cotton produced in China’s...more
- There is increasing regulatory, commercial and media attention in the U.K. and the EU regarding the role of human rights in company supply chains. - The U.K. and the EU are introducing specific measures around human...more