Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article reports on findings from a joint investigation by European consumer protection groups, which identified significant safety and compliance issues with products sold on Temu and Shein. The claims are based on tests of randomly purchased items, with nearly 70% allegedly failing to meet EU regulations. We present these findings for reader awareness, noting that the platforms have not yet responded to the specific allegations.
An investigation conducted by several consumer protection organizations (Achats, a Belgian consumer association, in collaboration with consumer associations in Germany and Denmark) has reportedly highlighted safety deficiencies in products sold on the Chinese platforms Temu and Shein.
The tests reportedly covered USB chargers, toys, and jewelry purchased randomly on both platforms. Of the 162 items analyzed, nearly 70% would not comply with European Union regulations, and over half would present health or safety risks to consumers.
In 2024, the EU reportedly recorded 4.6 billion small parcels from China, largely shipped by Temu and Shein. The growth of these e-commerce platforms, driven by aggressive marketing campaigns and extremely low prices, has reportedly brought an increase in products often lacking quality and compliance checks.
USB chargers, sold between €2 and €18.64, reportedly showed both structural defects and non-compliance with CE standards. Only 2 out of 54 models passed the tests, while many others presented risks of short circuits, overheating, and fire. Some reportedly reached temperatures over 100°C, well beyond established safety limits.
Toys reportedly proved even more problematic, with only one out of 54 being compliant. Tests detected dangerous levels of toxic substances banned or strictly limited in the EU. Additionally, small easily detachable components posed a serious choking hazard for children.
The jewelry analyzed, while showing better compliance than other categories, was not without risks. Some pieces contained cadmium and nickel in quantities up to 8,700 times higher than European limits, toxic materials that could cause, for example, allergic reactions.
For consumers, it is not easy to distinguish between a compliant product and one that could pose health risks. In this regard, the advice is to prioritize products that can guarantee a minimum of traceability. In some cases, a slightly higher expense could prove to be a small investment in safety.
Below is the comment received today from a Temu spokesperson for Italy:
