Reuters reported in July 2021 that French prosecutors had opened an investigation into Uniqlo France and three other retailers over suspected concealment of crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.

Why this label

Reuters reported that the crimes against humanity unit of the anti-terror prosecutor's office opened the inquiry after a complaint, naming Uniqlo France, Inditex, SMCP and Skechers^S2. The report was accurate when published. AFP reported that on 12 April 2023 the prosecutor's office told the plaintiffs it was halting the investigation for lack of jurisdiction^S3. NGOs and a former camp detainee filed a new complaint in May 2023^S4S5. AFP reported in February 2025 that an investigating judge had issued an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate in May 2024, and that the investigation chamber of the Paris appeal court confirmed it^S6. A new complaint before a different judge was planned^S6. None of these steps was a finding on the facts. The 2021 inquiry no longer exists.

Current procedural position

Preliminary inquiry opened in late June or early July 2021^S2. Halted on 12 April 2023 for lack of jurisdiction^S3. Complaint of 16 May 2023 met an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate in May 2024, confirmed on appeal in February 2025^S6. A further complaint was announced, with no filing or outcome found as of October 2026.

Evidence score: 71 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

Timeline

1. 2 July 2021Reuters reports the inquiry^S2
2. 12 April 2023Prosecutors halt the inquiry^S3
3. 16 May 2023New complaint filed^S5
4. 17 May 2023AFP reports the new complaint^S4
5. May 2024Investigating judge issues an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate^S6
6. 5 February 2025Appeal court investigation chamber confirms the order, reported the next day^S6

Related cases

• Complaint by Sherpa and others against Uniqlo France, Inditex, SMCP and SkechersFrench National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (crimes against humanity unit), Paris investigating judge and Paris Court of Appeal investigation chamber. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Inquiry halted on 12 April 2023. The complaint of 16 May 2023 met an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate in May 2024, confirmed on appeal in February 2025^S6. A further complaint was announced.
  • 12 April 2023 Inquiry halted for lack of jurisdiction^S3
  • 5 February 2025 Paris Court of Appeal investigation chamber confirms the May 2024 order^S6

Responses

• Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., 2 July 2021: The company said French authorities had not contacted it and it would cooperate fully if notified.^S2

Revision history

• 25 October 2026 Assessment first published with label Outdated.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

1. S3Tier C France drops fashion group probe over Uyghur labourJusticeInfo.net (AFP). Press report. 4 May 2023.Reports the April 2023 closure for lack of jurisdiction. It is not a finding on the facts.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
2. S4Tier C Fashion groups face new Uyghur forced labour complaint in FranceJusticeInfo.net (AFP). Press report. 17 May 2023.Reports the new complaint and company denials. It does not report any judicial step after filing.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
3. S6Tier C Travail forcé des Ouïghours : une plainte en France déclarée irrecevable mais une autre bientôt déposéeFashionUnited (AFP). Press report. 6 February 2025.AFP report with no named reporter. It says the Paris appeal court's investigation chamber confirmed a May 2024 order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate, and that a new complaint was planned. It does not give the court's reasons.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
4. S2Tier C France probes fashion retailers for concealing 'crimes against humanity' in XinjiangReuters (via Nippon.com). Press report. 2 July 2021.Report by Benoit Van Overstraeten on the inquiry opening and the Fast Retailing statement. Its status was overtaken in 2023.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
5. S5Tier C France: NGOs ask investigating judge to open judicial investigation to clarify responsibilities of multinational garment companies allegedly profiting from Uyghurs forced labourBusiness and Human Rights Resource Centre (Libération with AFP). Press report. 17 May 2023.Reproduces an AFP report naming Uniqlo France and quoting Fast Retailing. It does not establish any supply chain fact.

Other claims about Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

• Supported63
  US Customs and Border Protection blocked a shipment of Uniqlo shirts at the Port of Los Angeles in January 2021 and ruled on 10 May 2021 that the company had not shown the shirts were free of forced labour.
  Press report, May 20213 records citedProduct claims
• Unresolved44
  Fast Retailing said in July 2021 that none of its production partners were in Xinjiang and in May 2023 that there is no forced labour in its supply chains.
  Company statement, 17 May 20234 records citedProduct claims