The EU committee has started an investigation against the Chinese Online Marktplaats Shein. The focus is on whether the platform is sufficient against incorrect contractual conditions and unfair business practices.
Violations of European consumer protection are possible. Shein was informed of the research, said the Brussels Authority on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the company said that all efforts would be welcomed “who should strengthen the trust and safety of European consumers in online shopping”.
Already in June 2024 the Brussels authority asked for detailed information from Shein, for example about the procedure against illegal products and manipulation of consumers. The committee also wanted information to what extent the dealers had to be taken back.
Similar research against Temu
The EU committee had already conducted a similar investigation against Temu. At that time, for example, problematic practices such as false discounts, fake assessments and missing and misleading information about the legal claims of consumers were found.
Due to their low prices, online retailers are very popular. Politicians and consumer protection criticize, among other things, the lack of quality, lack of controls and unfair competitive conditions.
“Products that do not meet European safety requirements are introduced through Chinese online retailers. The reports on dangerous electronic waste and the toys of the submitted substances are piling up. For damaged goods, however, the importer is usually liable and when ordering online this is often the final consumer that ordered the goods, ”said Elisabeth Götze, spokeswoman for the Groenen’s business community.
“Digitization and the growing e-commerce have fundamentally changed our markets and the world of trade. It is all the more important not to keep this development behind the regulations, but to act in advance to protect all EU citizens, especially the smallest unsafe products, ”said Elisabeth Grossmann, Spö-EU MP.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
