Titines presenting a risk of suffocation, sunglasses without UV filter … Michael McGrath wants to rage against the sale of goods on these Chinese platforms which openly break the law.
With their millions of small packages entering the EU every day, the TEMU and Shein platforms disturb the entire European commercial market. Goods which, in addition, are potentially dangerous, denounced on Sunday July 20, the European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath to the Guardiansaying “Shocked”. “We have a duty to protect European consumers”, He said to the British daily.
The Irish European Commissioner has thus promised to rage against the sale of goods which openly break the law. He said he “Determined to strengthen the application of our product safety laws and our consumer protection rules”indicating to wait for the results of an operation of mysteries customers carried out on the EU scale to prove that Chinese platforms bypass European laws.
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Last week, the European Commission had already revealed the results of a study on childcare products purchased online, targeting Shein and Temu, but also Aliexpress, Amazon and Zalando. This operation “Noted that online marketplaces meet the basic requirements (95 % of them correctly identify the products, for example using images or barcodes)”reported the European executive.
However, “Additional efforts are necessary to ensure that consumers receive all the necessary security information”. Market supervisory authorities notably noted that when dangerous products are withdrawn as a result of a withdrawal injunction, some of them reappear in market places. “Europeans deserve safe products, whether purchased online or offline”reacted Henna virkkunen, executive vice-president of the European Commission responsible for technological sovereignty
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Among the worst examples of dangerous products sold on Shein and Temu, Michael McGrath cites babies, some of which have a risk of suffocation. In question, the fact that they do not have the regulatory size to allow a baby who would accidentally swallow it to continue to breathe.
Other products have drawn the attention of European deputies to a report published this month: raincoats for children containing toxic chemicals, UV filter-free sunglasses, or children’s shorts with longer cords than regulatory length, causing a risk of falling. Finally, some cosmetics are suspected of containing “methylpropional of butylphenyl”, listed as a chemical “Very worrying” by the EU. The latter has even been prohibited by the EU since 2022 due to a supposed impact on fertility and fetal development.
Contacted by Le Figaroa Shein France spokesperson assures that all its suppliers “Are required to respect the Code of Conduct and Strict Safety standards of Shein, as well as the laws and regulations in force on the markets where we operate”. “When cases of non-compliance are identified, Shein takes immediate measures to protect his customers, which can go so far as to remove the seller from his platform”says the company, saying to have “Withdrawn more than 500 suppliers who did not meet our policies and requirements”. For his part, Temu says it will arrange “Of a sellers’ verification system, proactive surveillance and reactive withdrawals to prevent, detect and remove dangerous products”. “We work in close collaboration with world -renowned test and certification organizations (…) to ensure that the products offered by third -party sellers meet safety and quality standards”add the platform.
