What was reported
Buying from China or India does not automatically make your shipment a prohibited import. The central issue is how the goods were produced.
The government issued Decree 1444 on September 28, 2026, to prohibit imports of goods made wholly or partly with forced labour. Its scope covers different production stages, from raw material extraction through assembly and finishing.
What does this mean? The problem could arise at an earlier manufacturing stage, even if the company selling you the finished product is not directly involved. This makes it useful to identify the manufacturer rather than relying solely on the seller’s details.
DIAN, Colombia’s customs and tax authority, will have investigation and enforcement responsibilities, including the power to seize and confiscate goods where warranted. A complaint alone does not amount to a penalty: the facts must be verified and the right to a defence respected.
For importers, purchasing decisions require looking beyond price, freight and delivery dates. What happens before the goods reach the port matters too.