Correspondence
Lara Conradie, Senior Communications Executive at the British Retail Consortium, emailed: “I believe you’ve been in touch with Tesco regarding forced labour in China’s seafood processing industry. I am getting in touch from the British Retail Consortium – the trade body for UK retail. I just wanted to send you a line from us on behalf of the UK retail industry on the matter in case it is helpful to have on your records. Sophie De Salis, Sustainability Policy Adviser at the BRC, said: ‘Protecting the welfare of people and communities in supply chains is fundamental to our members’ sourcing practices. Forced labour has no place in our retailers supply chains, and any practices that fall short of our high standards will not be tolerated.’”
The Outlaw Ocean Project replied, asking: "The statement you provided to Ian from Sophie De Salis said that “any practices that fall short of our high standards will not be tolerated”. Could you elaborate further on how the British Retail Consortium responds to reports of forced labor in its members’ supply chains? Does the Consortium carry out its own inquiries in such cases? If so, how are these managed?"
Lara Conradie of the BRC replied: "BRC supports its members by convening retailers when issues occur and work collaboratively to find industry solutions, such as the need for industry action e.g. investigation or government action. The BRC does not carry out its own inquiries but encourage retailers to use third party researchers or NGOs to investigate."
Lara Conradie, Communications Adviser at the British Retail Consortium, emailed: "In case it is helpful, I am sharing a retail industry line from us to your findings re North Korean labour in the Chinese food processing industry. BRC spokesperson said: 'Protecting the welfare of people and communities in supply chains is fundamental to our members' sourcing practices. Forced labour has no place in our retailers’ supply chains and all our members operate in line with all legal requirements. Any practices that fall short of our high standards will not be tolerated.'"