France has urged the European Union to take measures against Asian e-commerce giant Shein, two ministers said Thursday, following an uproar over sales of childlike sex dolls on its French website.
The European Commission, which is already investigating Shein for multiple suspected breaches of EU rules, responded it takes "very seriously" the risks from illegal products on the online platform but did not plan to block access for now.
The Chinese-born giant opened is first brick-and-mortar store in Paris on Wednesday with activists up in arms over the dolls and the environmental imprint of the fast fashion brand.
While the shop at the BHV department store remains open, the French government has moved to suspend online sales while it checks that the e-platform is complying with French laws.
"The European Commission must take action. It can no longer wait," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told broadcaster France Info.
"The commission has conducted certain investigations. It must now accompany them with sanctions," he said.
The French junior minister for digital platforms, Anne Le Henanff, said she and Finance Minister Roland Lescure had sent a letter to the European Commission urging the EU's executive arm "to use all its powers to shed light on Shein's actions".
"Platforms that benefit from the European market must adhere to its principles," she wrote on LinkedIn. "The era of impunity is over."
EU digital spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters: "The sale of childlike sex dolls is extremely concerning."
"We do not want to see these products being offered to European citizens," he added.
Regnier said there was currently no plan to block access to Shein, and that under the bloc's Digital Services Act such a step would be a "very last resort" to be taken by the member state hosting the platform.
In this case, the move would have to come from Ireland where Shein has its EU headquarters.
But he added the commission was consulting with France to determine if the risks identified were of a "systemic" nature.
"In which case the commission will not hesitate to take action," Regnier said.
- 'Didn't stop me from coming' -
The EU added Shein in April 2024 to its list of Very Large Online Platforms subject to tougher obligations under the DSA, a powerful law that forces tech giants to do more to protect European consumers online.
It has been looking since February this year into risks linked to illegal products on the site, a possible first step towards a formal investigation under the DSA.
In parallel, Brussels has launched a probe along with consumer authorities in several EU countries into practices by Shein that infringe on the bloc's consumer laws, from fake discount deals to misleading product information.
Shein risks fines unless it tackles the concerns, which it has said it is working to do.
Shein said it was banning all sex dolls on its French website after a fraud watchdog alerted authorities over its sale of sex dolls resembling children.
French newspaper Le Parisien posted a picture of a childlike doll measuring around 80 centimetres (30 inches) in height and holding a teddy bear that it said was sold on the website.
It cited a product description that made clear it was being sold for sexual purposes.
The scandal did not deter hundreds of shoppers from flocking to the upper-end BHV department store in central Paris on Wednesday, eager to check out a brand they might actually be able to afford.
"The dolls didn't stop me from coming," said Fatima Mriouch, a 48-year-old education worker.
Outside, activists distributed a flyer denouncing "suspected forced labour" and "pollution", and urging passersby to sign a petition against Shein's presence in the Paris store.
Frederic Merlin, director of the SGM company that operates BHV, has said he hopes Shein will help increase footfall at the department store.
burs-ah/sjw/lth
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.