France wants to suspend the Shein platform. In the background there is a scandal with controversial dolls
The statement from the Ministry of Economy emphasized that the actions were taken on the orders of the Prime Minister. “The suspension procedure will remain in place for as long as necessary for Shein to demonstrate that its content complies with the regulations” – said in a statement.
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Controversial dolls on the Shein platform. The French minister allows a radical move
Shein, in response to the crisis, has temporarily suspended the sale of goods from external suppliers on its marketplace in France. According to sources cited by AFP this decision was made by the company regardless of the government's moves — company representatives say this happened due to “concerns” about the content published by some sellers.
The Paris prosecutor's office is investigating illegal products that appeared on the platform. Economy Minister Richard Lescure announced that if such scandalous goods appear on sale again, Shein may be completely banned from the French market. The company's representative, Quentin Ruffat, declared full cooperation with law enforcement authorities, including providing the data of sellers and buyers.
At the same time, the authorities are investigating whether similar content may have appeared on other popular marketplaces – including Temu, AliExpress and Wish – and whether underage users may have accessed it.
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Previous problems of the Shein platform in France
Shein has previously had disputes with French institutions. So far, three financial penalties have been imposed on the platform for a total amount of EUR 191 million, including: for misleading consumers through false promotions and violating cookies regulations.
The controversy broke out at a key moment for the company – on Wednesday, Shein opened its first stationary store in the world in Paris, in the prestigious BHV department store. The inauguration sparked protests from the French clothing sector and economic organizations, which accuse the platform of destroying the local market through aggressive sales models and promoting the so-called fast fashion.
“BHV has let the wolf into the fold,” said Pascal Demurger from Impact France, adding that the mass import of cheap clothing could translate into an increase in unemployment. BHV CEO Frederic Merlin defended the decision, pointing out that Shein already has over 25 million customers in France.
