Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein has refused to attend a European Parliament hearing on the sale of illegal and unsafe products.
“Shein has refused to respond to the European Parliament’s summons, a serious gesture that illustrates the contempt of a platform that profits from the Single Market while bypassing its rules,” said MEP Yvan Verougstraete yesterday.
“Despite this, the Parliament, together with members of the consumer-protection committee, will hold a first high-level hearing on December 4 to move towards a strong strategy against the illegal and dangerous products circulating in Europe.”
He added that platforms failing to comply with European Union rules “must be open to suspension” and that access for Shein’s lobbyists and those representing other operators involved in alleged unlawful practices “should be frozen” for as long as the companies refuse to co-operate.
The December 4 session will go ahead as planned. It will focus on the surge of illegal and non-compliant products entering the EU market through large online platforms.
Senior officials from the European Commission are expected to take part, alongside France’s consumer-fraud authority DGCCRF, which is part of the French Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs and which has been particularly active in sanctioning marketplace breaches.
“This hearing will allow us to examine the growing number of infractions found on major online marketplaces,” Verougstraete said.
“Non-compliant products, risks for minors, misleading commercial practices and large flows of illegal goods continue to circulate in Europe without sufficient obstacles. This situation cannot continue and requires an immediate EU response.”
The parliamentary move follows a series of actions by the EU and national authorities over the sale of alleged illegal items on Shein and other platforms.
French authorities recently suspended part of Shein’s activity after child-like sex dolls and other prohibited items were discovered for sale.
The EC has since requested detailed information from Shein on how it prevents illegal products from reaching consumers and how it protects minors from inappropriate content.
The inquiry does not yet constitute a formal investigation but signals growing concern under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to Shein as a Very Large Online Platform.
In parallel, MEPs have asked the EC to consider opening DSA probes into Shein, AliExpress and Temu after national investigations found that child-like sex dolls had also appeared on these platforms. Lawmakers warned that such products must never be accessible online again.
Recent co-ordinated tests by Belgian, German and Danish consumer watchdogs revealed extensive safety failures in products sold by third-party vendors on Shein and Temu. Nearly seven in 10 items assessed — including toys, chargers and jewellery — broke EU safety rules.
Toys were particularly dangerous, with almost all items showing serious defects such as choking hazards, sharp edges or toxic substances.
USB chargers frequently failed electrical-safety checks and several overheated to extreme temperatures.
Many necklaces exceeded legal limits for hazardous metals.
The results reinforced concerns in Brussels over the scale of illegal goods entering the Single Market through major online platforms.
Verougstraete argued that suspending platforms that repeatedly breach EU rules should become a realistic tool.
“Shein is not the only one concerned but it is today the most emblematic example. The platform refuses to appear before elected representatives while fully benefiting from access to the EU market,” he said.
“This contradiction is no longer acceptable,” he said, adding the refusal should have immediate consequences.
“If Shein refuses to be accountable to the European Parliament, there is no reason to continue accepting the presence of its representatives within the institution.
“Their lobbyists’ access should be suspended for as long as the company refuses democratic oversight. The same should apply to any operator engaging in similar conduct,” he said.
“The European Union must show that it commands respect. The Single Market is not a territory without rules.
“It is our responsibility to protect consumers and require every platform to follow our laws. Until that happens, we will act,” Verougstraete concluded.
