Recital 55

(55)Decisions of the lead competent authorities establishing a violation of the prohibition of products made with forced labour should be communicated to customs authorities, who should aim to identify the product concerned from products declared for release for free circulation or export. The competent authorities of the Member States should be responsible for the overall enforcement of the prohibition of products made with forced labour in the Union market as well as products entering or leaving that market. Since forced labour is part of the manufacturing process and does not leave any trace on the product, and as Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 covers only manufactured products and its scope is limited to release for free circulation, customs authorities would be unable to act autonomously under Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 in the application and enforcement of the prohibition of products made with forced labour. The specific organisation of controls of each Member State should be without prejudice to Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ²¹ and its general provisions on the control and supervisory powers of customs authorities.