Shein Dodges French Ban After Removing Illegal Goods Amid Ongoing Investigation

The Asian e-commerce giant Shein has narrowly avoided immediate suspension in France, following a swift governmental intervention. While the platform has now removed all "illicit products" from its online offerings, it remains under stringent surveillance by French state services. The government lauded this development on Friday as a "fundamental victory" for public order and consumer protection, while also confirming that legal proceedings against Shein are ongoing.

This resolution comes after a critical ultimatum issued by French authorities on Wednesday, giving Shein 48 hours to comply with national law. The mandate was triggered by the alarming discovery of child-like sex dolls and Category A weapons listed for sale on its website. The government's firm stance led to rapid action from Shein, which was announced to have "secured the removal of all illicit products sold on its platform" by Friday.

Shein's compliance was primarily achieved through its decision to temporarily suspend its "marketplace" functionality, which allowed third-party sellers to offer their products. The Fraud Control Directorate subsequently confirmed that "there are no longer any illicit products (such as items of a child-pornographic nature, bladed weapons or medicines) on sale on Shein." This outcome has been presented by the government as a significant success, with a further update from Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu scheduled for next week to assess the situation.

Despite this immediate resolution, Shein's troubles are far from over. On Friday, the Interior Ministry formally referred the matter to the Paris judicial court. This action aims to "put an end to the serious damage to public order caused by Shein’s repeated failings." Furthermore, the sale of child-pornographic dolls has spurred four ongoing investigations, entrusted by the Paris public prosecutor’s office to the Office Mineurs, underscoring the severity of the alleged offenses.

In a broader move, France has also escalated the issue to the European Commission, which has acknowledged "the seriousness of the situation," hinting at potential continent-wide scrutiny. The French authorities have pledged to "actively monitor developments on the platform," specifically focusing on the sustained implementation of all precautionary measures taken by Shein. The government has unequivocally stated its commitment to taking "all necessary measures to prevent the marketing of any illicit product" on any platform. Additionally, the government announced it would initiate "new proceedings in the coming days" against other unnamed platforms where similar "sale of illicit products" has been observed, indicating a wider crackdown. Shein, when contacted by AFP, did not immediately provide a statement.