EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

In parallel to its Regulation on deforestation-free products (see here), the EU is currently preparing a Directive on mandatory human rights and environmental obligations for business more generally. This legislation is intended to create a level-playing field among companies operating in the EU market and ensure that these adequately take into account human rights and environmental risks, including deforestation. The respective due diligence obligations are to apply throughout companies’ entire value chains and with regards to all products and services. A first proposal for the so-called Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) was published on 23 February 2022.