EU puts Temu and Shein in the hot seat for hazardous imports

As reported by Reuters, the European Commission is holding Temu and Shein responsible for selling unsafe products. This is part of a bigger effort to stop the flood of cheap, hazardous imports from China. ??

?? Consumer protection gets serious

In 2024, the EU received 4.6 billion low-value products (under $156). That’s around 12 million packages arriving every single day, with 91% coming from China. These imports often dodge safety checks, creating risks for consumers and unfair competition for EU sellers who follow strict regulations.?

Key changes coming:

• An e-surveillance tool will check if products are dangerous before they ship.
• A proposed handling fee will help cover the cost of monitoring imports.
• The Commission has called on EU countries to cut duty-free exemptions for low-value parcels under €150, following a similar recent decision by the U.S.

??? What the brands say

The crackdown also extends to a joint investigation into Shein for potential violations of EU consumer protection rules. While Shein has pledged to cooperate, Temu—already under scrutiny since last October for other issues—remains silent.

For sellers, this marks an opportunity to compete on a more level playing field as the EU takes action against unfair practices from non-compliant imports.

As the investigation unfolds, the EU’s message is clear: safer shopping, fair competition, and a greener ecommerce are priorities that won’t be compromised.

What do you think—a good move or just more red tape? ??