To the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions and Members of the European Union institutions,

We, the undersigned, call on the European Union to strengthen and fully enforce effective due diligence legislation, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), in order to better protect human rights within global supply chains.

Gum arabic, also known as E414, is a natural resin harvested from acacia trees and commonly used in products such as soft drinks, sweets, cosmetics, medicines, and processed foods sold across the European market. Despite being present in many everyday products, few consumers are aware that much of the world’s gum arabic originates from Sudan, a country heavily affected by conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises.

The gum arabic supply chain demonstrates why stronger EU due diligence laws are urgently needed. Workers and local communities involved in production and trade remain vulnerable to exploitation, insecurity, and human rights abuses, while the realities behind these supply chains often remain invisible to consumers and insufficiently addressed by companies operating within the EU.

We believe companies benefiting from global trade must also be held accountable for identifying, preventing, and addressing human rights risks connected to their sourcing practices. Existing and future EU due diligence frameworks, including the CSDDD, are essential tools for ensuring greater transparency, corporate accountability, and ethical trade practices.

We therefore urge the European Union to:

• Fully uphold and strengthen the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
• Require companies placing products on the EU market to conduct meaningful human rights and conflict-sensitive due diligence
• Increase transparency regarding sourcing practices and supply chain risks
• Ensure that due diligence measures protect vulnerable communities and workers
• Promote responsible sourcing practices that support, rather than harm, the livelihoods of Sudanese producers.

This petition does not call for consumer boycotts or economic disengagement from Sudan. Instead, it calls for responsible corporate engagement and stronger protections for the people whose labour sustains global supply chains.

By signing this petition, you support stronger EU leadership on human rights, corporate accountability, transparency, and ethical sourcing practices.

Sign here to support stronger due diligence laws in the European Union!