Announcement appears after, about three months ago, the community executive began to investigate, in similar way, the
The European Commission announced on Wednesday an investigation to the Chinese Shein Electronic Trade Platform to determine the existence of unfair practices in the European Union (EU), after doing the same with Temu, wanting more supervision to cheap orders.
“Today we announce the launch of a coordinated action […] against Shein to investigate compliance [com as regras] From the ‘online’ market and retailer of certain unfair and misleading practices prohibited by consumer law, ”said European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, at a press conference in Brussels.
After a similar action started last November against another Chinese e -commerce platform, Temu, and on the day the community executive advances with communication on e -commerce at the EU, the official guaranteed tight European monitoring with national authorities, such as inspections Surprise, tests and other controls to detect and collect dangerous market products.
Michael McGrath had to be at stake “orders of 10, 20 and 30 euros” and pointed out that “although the prices of many of the products are low, there is a high cost, which is the risks these products pose for health, security and for the environment ”.
The announcement comes after, about three months ago, the community executive began to investigate, in similar way, it was alleged by alleged unfair practices such as false discounts, pressure under pressure, nonexistent and misleading information, false assessments and hidden contact data , in Belgium countries, Ireland and Germany.
At that time, following an investigation from the consumer protection cooperation network, the European Commission threatened with fines based on the platform’s annual turnover in the affected member states.
Already this Wednesday, in communication on E-E-commerce at the EU, Brussels ensures “taking steps to meet the risks arising from low value imports sold through ‘online’ retailers from third countries and markets that welcome traders from countries third parties ”, as from China.
In the document with “a comprehensive EU instrument set for a safe and sustainable e -commerce”, the European Commission highlights the need for greater customs monitoring, consumer protection guarantee and compliance with new digital services laws and of digital markets.
It also advocates coordinated actions between the customs and inspection authorities, as well as controls of product security.
In addition, it requests the application of the Customs Union reform, which provides for the suppression of the exemption of customs rights for low value orders with a value of less than 150 euros.
Today data from Brussels released indicates that, last year, about 4.6 billion of low value orders, ie goods with a value not exceeding 150 euros, entered the EU market, which is equivalent to 12 million orders per day.
This number is twice the recorded in 2023 and the triple of the registered in 2022, and many of these goods were considered non -compliant with European legislation.
“This exponential growth is raising numerous concerns” because “there are more and more harmful products to enter the EU and, in addition, European sellers, who respect our high product standards, are in danger of being harmed by practices disloyal and the sale of counterfeit products ”, reports the institution, adding that“ the large number of orders issued and transported has a negative environmental and climatic footprint ”.
It is estimated that about 70% of European citizens regularly buy ‘online’ products.
