EU approves watered-down human rights and supply chain law

Revised corporate sustainability directive, first agreed in December, draws criticism from environmental campaigners

EU countries have slashed the scope of a law to make companies hunt down human rights abuse and environmental harm in their supply chains.

The EU’s corporate sustainability directive, which was agreed in December but nearly scuttled after a minor coalition partner in the German government withdrew its support, was approved by member states on Friday after a month-long search for compromise and further lobbying from France and Italy.