Drugmakers rely on supplies using Uyghur forced labor

International Support for Uyghurs (ISU) is writing to bring to your attention the concerning findings from a recent report by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS). The report reveals that the global pharmaceutical industry continues to rely on ingredients produced in East Turkistan, China, through the use of forced labour involving Uyghur workers.

Despite existing laws such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits imports from Xinjiang unless certified as free of forced labour, the report highlights that two U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development, are still linked to Xinjiang-based pharmaceutical suppliers. This demonstrates the ongoing challenge of eliminating forced labour from international supply chains, even in sectors where it is legally mandated to ensure such abuses are not present.

The use of Uyghur forced labour is a deeply entrenched practice in East Turkistan, part of broader oppressive measures by the Chinese Communist Party that have been described as genocide and crimes against humanity by several governments, including Canada’s. The pharmaceutical companies in the region not only profit from forced labour but also land seized from the Uyghur population. In some cases, Uyghurs detained in internment camps have been subjected to forced drug testing and other medical procedures, raising grave ethical concerns.

These findings underscore the need for stronger international cooperation and oversight to ensure that no part of our supply chains contributes to human rights abuses. We urge you to consider advocating for increased scrutiny of pharmaceutical imports and pushing for enhanced measures to prevent Canadian businesses and government agencies from being complicit in these violations.

We hope that you will support actions to ensure that Canada upholds its commitment to human rights, particularly in relation to the ongoing abuses in East Turkistan.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.