Toxic products, dangerous cosmetics, and a threat to children: Shein and Temu are in the EU’s crosshairs
21 July 2025 23:04
European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath has expressed deep concern about the safety of goods sold on popular Chinese online platforms Shein and Temu. The reason for this is numerous cases of selling products that do not meet EU standards and pose a danger to consumer health, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing The Guardian.
McGrath said he was waiting for the results of a pan-European mystery shopping inspection, which should confirm the evidence of violations already collected.
Among the most dangerous products were, in particular, baby pacifiers with easily detachable beads that do not meet safety standards and can cause choking. The European Parliament’s report also mentions children’s raincoats with toxic substances, sunglasses without UV filters, children’s shorts with excessively long laces, and cosmetics with the banned component Lilial (a synthetic fragrance substance often used in perfumes and cosmetics to create floral scents, especially lily of the valley and lily of the valley notes – ed.
McGrath emphasized that consumer protection is a top priority, especially given the growing popularity of Shein and Temu. According to official data, 12 million small parcels enter the EU every day, totaling more than 4.6 billion units per year (worth up to €150). This is twice as much as in 2023 and three times as much as in 2022.
At the same time, security concerns raise the question of fair competition. McGrath emphasized that European companies spend a lot of money to comply with the rules, while importers who violate the rules gain a competitive advantage.
In this regard, the EU is considering several steps: abolishing the €150 duty-free limit, introducing a fee for processing each parcel, and creating a single EU customs service. This should not only reduce the flow of illegal products but also cover the costs of additional control.
It is not yet known whether this issue will be discussed at the EU-China summit on July 25. However, McGrath personally plans to raise this issue in a dialogue with the Chinese side this year.
Read also: Temu attacks wallets and phones of Ukrainians: what do you need to know?
For its part, Shein said that the marketplace is investing $15 million in product testing, has already tested 2.5 million units, and terminated cooperation with 500 suppliers. Temu also assures that it conducts inspections and cooperates with certification institutions, including TÜV SÜD, SGS, and Eurofins, to ensure that the goods meet the standards.
Temu is a global Chinese platform that has managed to shake up the global e-commerce market in a short time. As a subsidiary of the Chinese giant PDD Holdings, it instantly became known for its ultra-cheap products, free shipping, and aggressive advertising.
The platform was launched in 2022 and from the very beginning set a course for the West. It offers goods directly from Chinese manufacturers, bypassing intermediaries, which allows it to maintain extremely low prices. Temu’s companies have direct ties to Chinese factories, and thus to Chinese state and industrial capital.
Shein is an international online fast fashion retailer and pop-up store chain popular with Generation Z consumers. The company was founded in 2008 in Nanjing by businessman Chris Xu under the name ZZKKO; in 2022, it moved its headquarters to Singapore. In 2023, the SHEIN brand was valued at $24.25 billion.
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