New laws set to ban forced labor and animal cruelty in 2027
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South Korea, Colombia, Hungary, England, and the European Union are implementing new laws starting in 2027 to ban specific animal welfare violations, plastic waste, and forced labor in supply chains.
South Korea will ban the breeding, slaughter, and sale of dogs for human consumption starting February 7, 2027. The government passed this law in 2024 and provided financial support to help farmers transition to other industries.
The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture reported that 82 percent of registered dog farms closed by May 2026. The state offered compensation between 225,000 Won ($170) and 600,000 Won ($450) per dog to encourage early closures. Colombia will fully ban traditional bullfighting and other events involving the injury or death of bulls in July 2027. The "No Más Olé" law, passed in July 2024, includes a three-year transition period to help workers find new jobs.
The government plans to repurpose arenas for sports and cultural events. However, the fate of roughly 30,000 bulls bred for these fights remains unclear. Hungary will ban the acquisition, breeding, and use of wild animals like elephants, bears, and giraffes in circuses starting in January 2027. While animals already legally held in menageries can stay for now, they can no longer be trained or performed.
In England, a ban on disposable wet wipes containing plastic will take effect on May 19, 2027, to prevent microplastics from entering sewage systems. The European Union is introducing measures to stop deforestation and forced labor. By June 30, 2027, small businesses must prove that products like coffee, cocoa, and palm oil are not linked to forest destruction. Additionally, the EU will ban products made with forced labor from its market starting December 14, 2027.
The European Commission estimates that 27.6 million people worldwide are affected by forced labor.
