France has called on the European Union to ban Chinese-founded fast-fashion retailer Shein, following a national outcry over “childlike” sex dolls listed on an online store.
“The European Commission must take action,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with French public broadcaster France Info, arguing that Sheen was “clearly violating European rules.”
“The [European] The Commission has conducted some investigations. “Now they should also be banned,” he said.
In response, the EU has said that it takes the risks posed by illegal products on online platforms “very seriously”.
The EU is considering possible next steps
EU digital chief Hanna Virkkunen was due to meet French ministers on Thursday to discuss “possible next steps from the EU”.
“The sale of child-like sex dolls is extremely worrying,” EU digital spokesman Thomas Regnier told reporters on Thursday. “We do not want to see these products offered to European citizens.”
He said the EU is not currently planning to block access to the online retail platform for Shein under the Digital Services Act – an EU framework to regulate online services and protect user rights within the bloc.
A Digital Affairs spokesperson explained that such a move would be a “very last resort” and would be a decision by Ireland as the state hosting Sheen’s EU headquarters.
The EU is consulting with France to determine whether the risks identified were “systemic,” in which case, “the Commission will not hesitate to take action,” Regnier said.
Outcry over ‘childlike’ sex dolls in France
The e-commerce giant caused an uproar in France after it was found advertising sex dolls with “child-like” characteristics on its web page. Following public outcry and threats of delisting, Sheen said it had sanctioned the third-party seller and banned the sale of sex dolls across its entire platform.
The Paris prosecutors’ office has launched an investigation and on Wednesday, the French government moved to completely suspend Shein’s online platforms until they comply with French regulations.
It came on the same day that Shein opened the doors of his first physical retail store in France amid protests against the fast fashion company’s labor practices and environmental impact.
A petition At the time of publication the protest against the presence of a brick-and-mortar store in the center of France’s fashion capital had more than 120,000 signatures.
Sheen is being criticized for violating EU consumer protection law
This is not the first instance of Schein coming under EU scrutiny. Beginning in 2024, the block added Shein to the list of large online platforms subject to tougher obligations under the Digital Services Act.
Since, the European Union has launched an investigation into potentially illegal content and goods in the retailer’s online marketplace, raising concerns over the safety of minors, public health and protection of personal data, among other things.
In parallel, Brussels is also coordinating an investigation with national consumer authorities into Shein’s marketing practices, which it says violate EU consumer law.
If you fail to address the concerns identified, there is a risk of fines of several million euros.
Edited by: Zack Crellin