Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** Shein has pledged to remove noncompliant items globally after reports revealed widespread safety breaches in Europe, underscoring ongoing regulatory challenges for fast-fashion platforms.
Shein announced that it has “initiated a precautionary protocol to ensure these items are removed from sale worldwide,” following reports that products sold by Shein and Temu were widely found to breach European safety regulations. The company confirmed the move in a statement to Belga on Thursday.
Earlier today, consumer organisation Testaankoop reported that 70 per cent of products from Shein and Temu failed to comply with European regulations. The Chinese online platforms, known for their low prices, may offer “bargains” that come at a hidden cost, the organisation warned. Of the 162 products tested, 112 did not meet EU standards.
Testaankoop and partner consumer organisations purchased 162 items sold by third-party vendors on Shein and Temu, including 27 toys, 27 USB chargers and 27 necklaces. The products were chosen at random from the best-seller lists, without targeting items that appeared unsafe. They were tested in specialised laboratories for mechanical, electrical and chemical safety, as well as for proper labelling and packaging compliance.
The results were alarming. Only one of the 54 toys tested fully met European safety standards, while the remaining 53 failed at least one test. In 60 per cent of cases, the toys presented real safety risks: many contained small detachable parts posing choking hazards, while others had poorly sealed electronic components or excessively high concentrations of chemicals.
Chargers also performed poorly, with 52 of the 54 failing at least one test. Some cracked open during drop tests or had pins that bent easily, making them unsafe to plug in. Seventeen chargers showed electrical faults that could cause short circuits, fires, or burns.
On Tuesday, federal environment minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) unveiled an action plan to prevent consumers from purchasing products containing toxic substances. Customs officials are increasingly finding dangerous materials such as cadmium and lead, particularly in counterfeit jewellery.
Government implements tighter controls after toxic metals found in imported jewellery