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European Union

European Commission Amends Regulation on Trade in Goods Linked to Capital Punishment and Torture

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The European Commission has taken a significant step towards regulating trade in goods that could be used for capital punishment, torture, or other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. By issuing the COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/928, the Commission has amended Regulation (EU) 2019/125, which aims to prevent the trade in such goods. The new regulation aims to keep pace with the evolving international security market, where technological advancements and changes in the use of law enforcement equipment necessitate updates to the list of prohibited or restricted goods.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has issued a delegated regulation (COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/928) to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/125 on trade in certain goods linked to capital punishment, torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
  • The regulation empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts to update the annexes to the regulation, which list goods prohibited or restricted for trade.
  • Annexes II and III to Regulation (EU) 2019/125 have been amended to reflect changes in the international security market and the use of law enforcement equipment.
  • The Commission has replaced Annexes II and III with new texts, which include a list of goods that have no practical use other than for capital punishment or torture.
  • The regulation requires economic operators to obtain authorization for the export of goods listed in Annex III, which includes goods primarily used for law enforcement purposes.
  • The regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Statistics:

  • The regulation was issued on 21 May 2025, as per Article 1 of the COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/928.
  • The regulation amends Regulation (EU) 2019/125, which was adopted on 16 January 2019.
  • Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/125 has been replaced by the text in Annex I to the new regulation.
  • Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2019/125 has been replaced by the text in Annex II to the new regulation.

Sources:

  • COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/928 of 21 May 2025, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2019 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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