French officials informed the Chinese authorities on Friday (November 7) that it is “unacceptable” for the Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein to sell children’s sexual dolls on its French website.
Earlier, the French Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Anti-Fraud Authority (DGCCRF) issued a statement saying that they had “discovered the e-commerce website Shein selling sexual dolls”.
According to Agence France-Presse, Nicolas Forissier, a ministerial-level representative responsible for foreign trade affairs in France, visited Shanghai during a major import expo. He stated that he had personally explained France’s position to the Deputy Minister of Commerce of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
“It is important to explain this matter to the Chinese authorities in a spirit of cooperation,” he told reporters. “I was there to say – please note, we are very concerned about this issue because there are unacceptable products that can be found on the Shein platform.”
“This has sparked very strong emotions (of boycott), and you should be aware of this. This is unacceptable, and the French government has decided to initiate the necessary procedures,” he said.
The French Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday (November 5) that they have initiated procedures to suspend Shein’s operations until they comply with French laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, customs officials have been ordered to inspect around 200,000 Shein packages.
Forissier stated that he believed the discussions went “very smoothly” and that Ling Ji “fully understood” his intentions.
“Shein must ensure the safety of its products and protect minors,” Forissier wrote on the social media platform X after meeting Ling Ji on Thursday.
On Tuesday (November 4), a Paris prosecutor stated that an investigation is ongoing regarding Shein and platforms like Temu. France has also urged the European Union to take action against Shein, while Shein has promised to fully cooperate with French authorities.
In fact, Shein is facing an investigation by the European Union for allegedly violating multiple EU regulations. The European Commission stated on Thursday that they “greatly value” the risks posed by illegal products on the Shein platform.