German Parliament Receives Inquiry on Impact of Supply Chain Due Diligence Law
Berlin, Germany – July 14, 2025 – The German Bundestag has officially published Drucksache 21/870, a “Kleine Anfrage” (Minor Inquiry) titled “Quantitative Ergebnisse der Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetzgebung der Bundesregierung” (Quantitative Results of the Federal Government’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Legislation). This significant document, released today at 10:00 AM, marks a formal step by members of parliament to assess the practical impact and measurable outcomes of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG).
The LkSG, which came into full effect in January 2023, places stringent obligations on larger German companies to ensure human rights and environmental standards are upheld within their global supply chains. The law requires companies to establish risk management systems, conduct regular due diligence assessments, implement remedial measures where violations are identified, and provide transparent reporting.
This “Kleine Anfrage” signals a growing parliamentary interest in moving beyond the initial implementation phase and scrutinizing the tangible effects of this landmark legislation. The inquiry is expected to seek quantitative data and evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the LkSG in achieving its stated goals, such as preventing human rights abuses and environmental damage in the production processes of goods imported into or manufactured in Germany.
While the full details of the questions posed within the inquiry are not immediately available in this initial announcement, it is highly probable that the questions will focus on:
- Compliance rates: The number of companies actively implementing the LkSG requirements and the extent of their compliance.
- Impact on human rights and environmental standards: Evidence of improvements in working conditions, reduction in child labor, prevention of forced labor, and better environmental protection within the supply chains of German businesses.
- Challenges and obstacles: Identification of any difficulties companies have faced in complying with the LkSG, and whether these challenges have hindered the law’s effectiveness.
- Effectiveness of reporting and transparency: An assessment of the quality and usefulness of the transparency reports published by companies regarding their due diligence efforts.
- Enforcement mechanisms: Information on how the relevant authorities are monitoring compliance and what measures are being taken in cases of non-compliance.
- Economic impact: Any quantifiable economic consequences of the LkSG on German businesses, both positive and negative.
The publication of Drucksache 21/870 is a crucial development in the ongoing discourse surrounding corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices. It underscores the commitment of the German government and parliament to ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of human dignity and environmental integrity. The answers provided by the federal government to these questions will be eagerly awaited by businesses, civil society organizations, and the public alike, offering valuable insights into the real-world impact of Germany’s pioneering supply chain due diligence legislation. This inquiry is a testament to the democratic process of accountability and the continuous effort to refine and optimize important legal frameworks.
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Drucksachen published ’21/870: Kleine Anfrage Quantitative Ergebnisse der Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetzgebung der Bundesregierung (PDF)’ at 2025-07-14 10:00. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.