In a note published on Monday 14 October, Eurocommerce, the main European organisation representing the retail and wholesale sector, takes a swipe at the Shein and Temu platforms.
Highlighting the fact that purchases made online and abroad by European consumers has “drastically” increased - “36%” since 2016 - Eurocommerce is warning about the practices behind this increase, which are described as “non-compliant”.
“At least a part of the success of these third-country players is based on aggressive marketing practices, misleading and manipulating consumers, not respecting EU consumer protection rules, offering products that do not comply with EU product safety rules, lacking due diligence, disregarding customs rules, breaching data protection rules (...)”, the memo explains in detail.
Eurocommerce is also attacking these platforms for their lack of environmental honesty and their “abusive” or even “exploitative” working practices.
“As for the quality of the products sold, the test results confirm that the majority (...) do not comply with at least one or more pieces of EU legislation”, the memo states.
Following the example set by several member countries in recent weeks (see EUROPE 13491/3), Eurocommerce is calling on the EU to “develop concrete enforcement action plans” and to use “all available instruments, including EU subsidy provisions, to ensure fair competition in the EU and a high level of consumer protection”. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)