BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - European Union countries postponed on Friday a decision on a proposed law requiring large companies in the bloc to check if their supply chains use forced labour or cause environmental damage and rectify this if they do.

A 'qualified majority' of 15 EU countries representing 65% of the EU population is needed for the corporate sustainability due diligence directive to proceed to a final vote in the European Parliament. Lawmakers are expected to support it.

On Friday, it was not clear if a sufficient number of envoys from the 27 EU countries backed the law, with Germany abstaining. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Charlotte Van Campenhout)