France Shakes as Shein Faces Suspension Over Dangerous Products and Banned Weapons
A serious scandal has erupted in France surrounding the popular Chinese online platform Shein, which has come under scrutiny after the discovery of prohibited and potentially dangerous products on its website.
The French Ministry of Commerce has decided to temporarily suspend the platform’s activity in the country to halt the distribution of goods that violate national laws and to prevent similar cases in the future.
The controversy escalated during the opening of Shein’s first store in Paris, which was met with mass protests and public outrage after child sex dolls and banned weapons were found among the merchandise.
In response, the company announced it had already removed the prohibited items, implemented sanctions against the sellers involved, and imposed a global ban on selling sex dolls.
Additionally, Shein temporarily halted its operations in France to review and strengthen oversight of third-party vendors.
French authorities have launched an investigation into the platform’s dissemination of pornographic images involving minors, following accusations of supporting pedophilia and exploiting children.
Despite the scandal, the owner of the BHV store in Paris – Société des Grands Magasins – has not severed ties with Shein, relying on assurances from the platform that they will ban such hazardous products.
Legal experts warn that French authorities’ ability to block the site is limited without a decision from the European Commission, given the complex procedures involved in blocking large-scale platforms under EU digital law.
Public and political circles are increasingly concerned about regulatory weaknesses amidst growing issues of illegal imports and harmful product sales.
The debate around gender identity issues among teenagers has gained new attention amid wider discussions on moral and social challenges.
Meanwhile, Parliament is preparing to hold hearings on November 18 to scrutinize Shein’s activities, while the government plans to act swiftly to reduce public tension and strengthen oversight of international online commerce.
The European Justice Commissioner, Michael McGart, has expressed deep concern over the risks posed by dangerous products—particularly to minors—among the rising influx of unsafe goods from Chinese online platforms like Shein.