This is an in-depth study on the fairly recent trend of including Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters (TSD) in Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and various partner countries and regions. With a particular focus on the TSD found in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community. The study comprehensively examines the little known of TSD found in the EU-SADC EPA in order to offer insight into the legal nature, implementation and enforceability of the TSD. The study further critically considers the raging debate about including sanctions in TSDs as a measure of inducing compliance in the event that the TSD is violated. The objects of the study are achieved by relying on a theoretical framework based on scholarly contributions from leading scholars in the field. Given that the field of ‘TSD law’-own emphasis- is still in its infancy this study hopes to contribute to the future development of TSDs.