A recent report from the German specialized magazine Oekotest revealed that two-thirds of the clothing products tested on the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein did not pass the tests, with some found to contain harmful chemicals. For example, a baby girl’s outfit was found to contain antimony, while a pair of sandals were found to contain lead and cadmium.
According to a report by Deutsche Welle on August 3rd, Oekotest’s findings showed that out of 21 items inspected, covering clothing for different genders and age groups (women, men, teenagers, and infants), including one pair of shoes for each age group. The products tested included baby shoes, teenage skirts, and adult faux leather jackets.
The testing results revealed that only one-third of Shein products were rated as “pass,” while the remaining two-thirds were either rated as “fail” or “unsatisfactory.” Some of the polyester fiber products felt too cheaply made, deterring people from wanting to try them on voluntarily.
Oekotest’s report also indicated that some of the products tested in this round contained harmful chemicals such as antimony, dimethylformamide, lead, cadmium, and phthalates.
For instance, a baby girl’s onesie with a unicorn pattern was found to contain toxic antimony, the residue of which can be absorbed through sweat into the skin and eventually enter the bloodstream. A pair of sandals were found to contain lead and cadmium; long-term high-dose intake of cadmium may lead to kidney and skeletal damage. Both of these heavy metals can accumulate in the body, posing potential health risks.
It was reported that Friedrich Merz, the leader of the opposition party CDU in Germany, called for regulation of Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu in June. He mentioned that an estimated 200,000 packages are shipped from China to Germany daily without any product inspections or tariffs imposed.
Shein, headquartered in Singapore, has approximately 108 million monthly active users in the 27 EU countries, with its clothing products manufactured by around 5,000 Chinese factories.
Over the years, Shein has been embroiled in scandals related to plagiarism, accusations of using illegal labor, and cotton produced with forced labor in Xinjiang, leading to boycotts by human rights organizations.
According to a Reuters report on June 19, documents from the United States revealed that Shein faced over 90 lawsuits alleging copyright infringement of others’ designs or products.
On June 28, the European Commission issued formal information requests to Shein and Temu under the Digital Services Act (DSA), both Chinese companies classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOP) in the EU, demanding more information on the measures they have taken to comply with the obligations of the DSA.
In a statement, the European Commission indicated that this enforcement action was based on complaints submitted by consumer organizations. Shein and Temu were required to provide the necessary information by July 12, 2024.
According to the EU’s Digital Services Act, companies with over 45 million users will be designated as Very Large Online Platforms, necessitating stricter measures to combat illegal or harmful content on their platforms, including counterfeits.
Therefore, both companies are obliged to comply with the more stringent safety regulations stipulated in the DSA and take additional measures to address illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
The European Commission is interested in understanding how Shein and Temu adhere to the regulations regarding online interfaces to prevent “dark patterns,” deceptive practices that mislead users into unnecessary purchases or selecting certain settings unknowingly.
Following significant resistance during its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, Shein faced scrutiny over its London listing plan from senior UK politicians and civil rights organizations, prompting calls for an examination.
On June 27, a court in London ruled that UK authorities must reconsider an investigation into the import of cotton allegedly produced by forced labor in Xinjiang, following a successful appeal by a Uyghur rights organization. Amidst these developments, the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein, preparing for its first public listing in the UK, encountered obstacles due to issues like forced labor.