France inspects 200,000 Shein parcels at airport

France is conducting a massive inspection of 200,000 parcels from the low-cost online platform Shein at a Paris airport. The inspection is being carried out by customs and the authority for competition, consumer protection and fraud prevention.

“This operation, of an exceptional scale, aims to verify product compliance, the accuracy of the information provided and adherence to tax and customs regulations,” announced Amélie de Montchalin, France's minister for public finance and budget.

“Initial findings have revealed non-compliant and illegal products. These include unauthorised cosmetics; toys that are dangerous for children; counterfeit goods; and defective household appliances,” the minister said. The aim of the 24-hour operation is to inspect 100 percent of the shipments arriving from Shein. According to trade minister Serge Papin, previous customs checks found that eight out of ten of the company's products inspected did not meet the required standards.

Shein did not initially comment on the inspections when asked by the German Press Agency.

Trade association calls for inspections at German airports

The German Trade Association would like to see similar action taken against Shein in Germany. Chief executive officer Stefan Genth called on the federal government to follow France's example and also inspect parcels in the country. “A clear signal is needed. We can no longer tolerate the systematic legal violations by platforms and retailers from the Far East,” said Genth. Those who do not adhere to the rules must face clear consequences.

In parallel with the inspection operation, France is calling on the European Union for a tough crackdown on the online fashion retailer Shein. France has called on the EU Commission to “launch an investigation and impose appropriate sanctions” against Shein, foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the broadcaster France Info.

Sex dolls with a childlike appearance

Coinciding with the opening of Shein's first retail space in Paris, the government initiated proceedings on Wednesday to suspend the online platform's operations in France.

This followed the public revelation that the online retailer was offering sex dolls with a childlike appearance. A member of parliament also raised the alarm because weapons were allegedly being sold via the platform, the possession of which is prohibited in France without a special permit.

On Wednesday, Shein had already announced its intention to cooperate with the French authorities and address all concerns.

This article was translated to English using an AI tool.

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