Duyurular

European Commission and National Authorities Urge SHEIN to Comply with EU Consumer Protection Law

It has been determined by the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network and the European Commission, which are responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection rules within the European Union, that the practices of the online retail platform SHEIN infringe EU consumer law.

  • The following areas of infringement have been identified:
    • It has been established that consumers are misled by discount displays that do not reflect actual previous prices.
    • It has been observed that, during the purchasing process, consumers are subjected to decision-making pressure through limited-time offers or artificial time constraints.
    • It has been determined that information regarding consumers’ statutory rights to return and receive refunds is provided in an incomplete, incorrect, or misleading manner and that these rights are not enforced in compliance with applicable legislation.
    • It has been identified that certain product features, although legally required, are presented to consumers as if they were additional advantages.
    • It has been understood that claims regarding the environmental sustainability of products are of questionable accuracy and may mislead consumers who prefer environmentally friendly choices.
    • It has been observed that clear and accessible communication channels that would enable consumers to contact the company before or after purchase are lacking.
  • The CPC Network has also requested SHEIN to provide further information to assess its compliance with additional obligations under EU consumer law, including the duty to ensure that product rankings, reviews, and ratings are not presented in a misleading manner.
  • In addition, the European Commission is conducting a comprehensive investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) into whether SHEIN has fulfilled its obligations regarding the presence of illegal content and products on the platform, the transparency of its recommender systems, and the mitigation of systemic risks concerning consumer protection, public health, and user wellbeing.
  • This enforcement action is described as complementary to the Commission's investigation currently being carried out under the DSA.

You can access the full text of the official press release issued by the European Commission here.

 

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr


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