PORTLAND – The town of Scarborough, concerned about supporting the use of sweatshop labor, adopted an ethical purchasing policy on Wednesday.

Town councilors voted 5-2 in favor of the new policy, which prohibits the purchase of apparel, such as police and fire uniforms, made wholly or in part in sweatshops.

“The issue is moral,” said Councilor Shawn Babine. “As a municipality and a government, I believe we need to set a higher standard.”

The change requires department heads to determine which goods are made in unethical work environments. They will be responsible for screening vendors for possible labor or human rights violations.

Potential vendors also will be required to submit a signed affidavit stating their facilities and those of their suppliers comply with international labor laws and United Nations conventions on human rights.

With the plan’s approval, Scarborough joins a host of governments, colleges and religious groups across the country that are part of the anti-sweatshop movement.

In 1997 the Bangor City Council approved a nonbinding resolution saying that clothing sold in the city should be made under safe and healthy conditions. In May, the state passed a bill creating a code of conduct that prohibits purchasing goods made in sweatshops. But finding and monitoring manufacturers that meet Scarborough’s criteria could strain town resources.

In a letter to Town Manager Ron Owens, Community Services Director Bruce Gullifer expressed concerns about the time and cost associated with the proposed policy. Owens said Tuesday it will be difficult to determine the effects on individual departments until the policy is in effect.

He expects many of the town’s vendors would be able to comply and estimates the cost to most departments would be negligible.

One possible exception is the town’s Community Services Department, which is responsible for T-shirts and sports uniforms, products that often are connected to sweatshops overseas.

Betty Lamoreau, acting director of the state Bureau of Purchasing, said the statewide purchasing code has worked well since it took effect in the spring. The statute has similar elements to Scarborough’s policy.

Lamoreau said identifying manufacturers that meet the standard and maintaining a registry of those companies has added some costs for the state. But overall, she said, the bidding process has remained competitive.

“It’s not the point to stop doing business with people, but to use the power of the market to influence them to change their practices,” Lamoreau said.