France’s competition, consumption, and anti-fraud authority (DGCCRF) announced on June 3 that they have imposed two fines on the e-commerce giant Shein totaling more than 22 million euros (approximately 25.5 million dollars). The reason behind the fines is the company’s issues with product traceability, environmental labeling, and delivery times. Shein has deemed the fines “excessive” and stated that they plan to appeal.
According to information released on the DGCCRF website, in 2025, the national investigation department of DGCCRF conducted an investigation on the website fr.shein.com to verify compliance with the provisions of the French Consumer Code regarding the right of withdrawal, as well as the obligations under the French Environmental Code to provide information on the environmental characteristics of waste-generating products.
The investigation confirmed that Shein failed to respect consumers’ right of withdrawal (meaning consumers cannot cancel purchases according to legal procedures); once again, there were instances of missing product traceability information and the presence of plastic microfibers in products. When the proportion of synthetic fibers in a product exceeds 50%, consumers must be provided with information that the process of washing releases plastic microfibers into the environment. This obligation applies to certain specific standards (such as sales volume) including textiles that generate waste, aiming to provide consumers with clear and reliable information on the environmental impact of their consumed products.
The distributor of Shein brand products on the French website, Infinite Styles Ecommerce Co Limited (ISEL), was therefore fined 5,764,500 euros (approximately 6.6 million dollars) administratively.
The investigation also found that Infinite Styles Services Co Limited (ISSL), the operator of the website, did not comply with the provisions of the Consumer Code. The order confirmation information sent to consumers lacked several mandatory pieces of information: product price, delivery date or time frame, seller’s identity and contact information, legal guarantee information, the possibility of seeking mediation assistance, and withdrawal forms and related information.
As a result, ISSL was fined 16,733,190 euros (approximately 19.4 million dollars). The total amount of the two fines adds up to 22,497,690 euros (approximately 26 million dollars). Shein, considering the fines excessive, has expressed its intention to appeal.
French Minister of Trade Serge Papin posted on his X account on June 3 about DGCCRF imposing the two fines on the e-commerce platform Shein. Papin wrote, “The French Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Anti-Fraud Authority punishes serious violations of retailers, including disrespecting consumers’ right of withdrawal, depriving consumers of mandatory information, and lacking transparency in the environmental impact of products.
“We are not punishing individual errors but a system: e-commerce platforms are evading compliance with our rules, not protecting consumers’ rights, while our retailers are abiding by the rules.
“This is unfair competition that I am fighting against.”
Shein was fined 40 million euros (approximately 47.17 million dollars) by DGCCRF on July 3 last year for engaging in “deceptive business practices,” including misleading discounts.
French lawyer and current Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Stéphanie Yon-Courtin shared Papin’s post and applauded it. In her reply to the post, she wrote, “Well done! Clear message: online platforms cannot violate our rules, deceive consumers, and undermine retailers’ interests without consequences. Transparency, consumer protection, fair competition. European companies comply with these standards every day. E-commerce giants must also adhere to the same rules.”
She ended her post by stating, “We now look forward to the European Commission showing the same determination!”
Yon-Courtin in the European Union has been involved in the Digital Markets Act, foreign subsidy rules, competition policy for tech platforms, and consumer protection and e-commerce regulation.