French authorities have fined Shein more than 22 million euros across two penalties for breaching consumer protection and environmental disclosure rules. The fines were issued by the DGCCRF, France's consumer protection agency, after an investigation into e-commerce platforms operating outside Europe. One penalty, amounting to 5.77 million euros, was imposed on Infinite Style Ecommerce Co Ltd (ISEL), the entity managing Shein's sales, for failing to provide a mandatory 14-day free return window and for omitting traceability details such as manufacturing countries. The company also did not disclose the presence of microplastics in its polyester fabrics, which contribute to water pollution during washing.
A second fine of 16.73 million euros was levied on Shein's subsidiary, Infinite Styles Services Limited (ISSL), for additional consumer law violations. These latest penalties bring the total fines imposed by France on the Singapore-based fashion retailer to over 210 million euros. Shein has contested both fines, calling them "manifestly disproportionate" and maintaining that no consumer harm has been proven. "There has never been any doubt about the fairness of transactions on our platform, or the quality and safety of the products and services offered," the company said. It added that it was not aware of a single customer complaint related to the cited issues.
The company has faced sustained criticism in France since launching operations there, with campaigners and politicians accusing it of environmental damage, unfair competition, regulatory non-compliance and poor factory conditions in China. In 2023, the discovery of childlike sex dolls on its third-party marketplace sparked public outrage, leading Shein to remove the items and ban sex dolls globally from its platform.
Shein claims no customer has complained about its traceability or return policy failures, yet it operates at a scale where systemic violations affect millions. The company's assertion of zero consumer harm contrasts with the French regulator's findings of widespread non-compliance. If no complaints were made, it raises questions about how effectively users can report issues on the platform. This gap benefits a business model built on volume, not accountability.
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