French government officials are demanding immediate EU action against Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein for violating European regulations through the sale of prohibited items including child-like sex dolls and banned weapons on its marketplace. France has already moved to ban Shein over these illicit products, prompting the company to suspend its third-party marketplace operations in the country while it reviews seller practices. French ministers have formally requested the European Commission investigate Shein „without delay,” citing serious breaches of EU law and potential risks across all member states. The platform faces scrutiny not only for illegal items but also for broader compliance failures with the Digital Services Act, which requires rigorous monitoring of third-party sellers and marketplace content.
The controversy extends beyond France, with German authorities and consumer groups joining calls for stricter enforcement against Shein. Germany’s Stiftung Warentest recently revealed that 68% of tested Shein and Temu products failed EU safety standards, citing unsafe toys and jewelry containing toxic metals. The European Commission has confirmed it is engaging with Shein following the French complaint and possesses enforcement powers that could lead to fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover for confirmed violations. While the EU has stated it does not intend to implement platform suspensions across the bloc, the regulatory pressure mounts as Shein reported $37 billion in global revenues for 2024.
This crackdown represents a broader European confrontation with Chinese e-commerce platforms flooding the market with cheap products. Shein, with nearly 146 million monthly EU users, has become a focal point in debates about customs loopholes that allow direct-to-consumer shipments from China to avoid duties on parcels under €150. The EU plans to eliminate this waiver in 2028, but France is advocating for faster implementation of measures including a €2 fee per low-value parcel. Simultaneously, the Commission is conducting separate investigations into Temu for insufficient prevention of illegal product sales, while French prosecutors are examining multiple platforms including Shein, Temu, AliExpress, and Wish for alleged failures in protecting minors from inappropriate content.
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Forrás: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/france-ramps-pressure-eu-investigate-080739953.html.