The European Commission is set to take a stronger stance against the online retailer Shein, having informed the company of the initiation of a coordinated measure, the Brussels-based authority announced on Wednesday.
The Commission also announced plans to take action to address the risks posed by the import of low-value goods, sold through online retailers from third countries and marketplaces where sellers from third countries are based. This includes measures in the areas of customs and trade, such as the introduction of customs controls, consumer protection and laws on digital services and digital markets.
Last year, according to the EU Commission, around 4.6 billion packages of low value, worth no more than 150 euros, entered the EU market, equivalent to 12 million packages a day. This was double the number from 2023 and triple the number from 2022 and many of these goods do not comply with European regulations. The exponential growth raises “numerous concerns”, the EU Commission stated, with an increasing number of harmful products entering the EU.
The surge in imported goods could pose a threat to the rights of European consumers and their safety, said EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath. “Now is the time for Team Europe to come together to address these threats and protect European consumers.”
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic added that the reform of the customs union, proposed by the Commission in May 2023, aims to eliminate the duty-free status for packages of low value and improve control through a proposed EU customs authority and an EU customs data platform. “This would be a real game-changer to improve the competitive conditions for e-commerce players.