Irish MEP Regina Doherty has called for urgent EU action to tackle the growing risks posed by fast fashion marketplaces following France’s move to suspend Shein after the discovery of child-like sex dolls and prohibited weapons for sale on its platform.
French authorities uncovered listings for machetes, axes, brass knuckles and child-like sex dolls on Shein’s third-party marketplace.
This prompted an immediate suspension request and a national investigation.
Ms Doherty said the scandal exposed “a complete failure of supervision, customs oversight and corporate responsibility”, warning that similar risks existed across other ultra-low-cost operators.
“Cheap goods are not free goods. Someone, somewhere, pays the real price. In this case, it is children, workers and European consumers.
“Platforms such as Shein have behaved as if the rules do not apply to them. That era must end.”
She welcomed the French intervention and urged the European Commission to accelerate the creation of the new EU Customs Authority, ensuring that every parcel entering the Union is properly checked and that criminal or harmful products cannot slip through regulatory systems.
“There are thousands of these parcels landing in the EU every hour, and we are checking far too few of them.
“We need proper supervision, real customs enforcement and a European authority capable of overseeing it. The Commission must act now.”
Ms Doherty said Shein’s failure was not an isolated case but a warning about wider market behaviour.
Platforms including Temu, Wish and AliExpress were also found to host illegal or dangerous content.
“This is not about one company. Shein is simply the most visible example of a much wider problem. We are seeing unregulated operators flooding Europe with goods that are unsafe, exploitative and environmentally ruinous.”
She noted the company’s own admission last year that instances of child labour were found in its supply chain, adding that the environmental impact of ultra-fast-fashion business models was “devastating”.
Ms Doherty said Ireland should be pushing from the front within the EU. “Ireland must lead, not follow. We should be at the forefront in demanding that the Customs Authority is stood up as quickly as possible, and that dangerous online sellers face real consequences. Consumers and children must come before corporate profits.”
“The message must be clear. Europe is not a dumping ground. If you want to sell here, follow the law. If you will not, you are not welcome.”