The online fashion retailer Boohoo could soon have its products banned from the U.S after widespread allegations over the use of slave labour.
Sky News has learned that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considering a petition from a British lawyer who claims Boohoo is not doing enough to stop forced labour in factories in Leicester.
The company insists investigators have found no evidence of modern day slavery. Martin Brunt reports from Leicester.
Boohoo said in a statement: “The group has not been notified of any investigation by US Customs and Border Protection, but we are confident in the actions that we are taking to ensure that all of the group’s products meet and exceed the CBP criteria on preventing the product of forced labour entering the US (or any of our markets).
“Over the past eight months we have been working closely with UK enforcement bodies and it is important to note that auditors and investigators who are forensically examining suppliers in Leicester have found no evidence of modern day slavery.
“We have taken action against 64 suppliers who did not meet the group’s standards in the levels of transparency that business requires.
“If we were to discover any suggestion of modern-day slavery we would immediately disclose this to relevant UK authorities.
“We are confident in the actions that we are taking to ensure that all of our products meet and exceed the CBP (US Customs and Border Protection) criteria on preventing the product of forced labour entering the US (or any of our markets).
“The group continues to make excellent progress as it works to implement the Review’s recommendations and improve our supply chain in Leicester.
“The group has not been notified of any investigation by US Customs and Border Protection, but we are confident in the actions that we are taking to ensure that all of the group’s products meet and exceed the CBP criteria on preventing the product of forced labour entering the US (or any of our markets).”
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