Socially Responsible Supply Chain Compliance

What do laws on Wall Street financial reform, child labor, human trafficking, wildlife protection, jobs promotion, and food and product safety all have in common?  Despite separate enforcing agencies and very different subject matter, they are all part of an ever-growing body of federal, state and municipal laws that are normally thought of as addressing social and safety concerns but increasingly affect companies’ supply chains.  These laws can apply to companies all the way down the supply chain to the providers of parts and material inputs. Companies need to be aware of these new and untraditional supply chain requirements, some of which are still evolving and being implemented.  Failure to do so can lead to fines, seizures, lost business, poor public relations, civil and even criminal liability.  This article highlights several laws that can have unexpected consequences on import and supply chain compliance.