France’s consumer protection authority has found that the majority of products it tested from major foreign e-commerce platforms failed to comply with European Union safety and regulatory standards, intensifying scrutiny of low-cost online marketplaces operating across Europe.(
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), an agency of the French government, said it examined more than 600 products purchased from seven foreign online platforms in 2025—three times the number tested in previous years. According to the regulator, 75% of the products did not comply with EU requirements, while 46% were both non-compliant and deemed dangerous.
French officials said the testing focused on high-risk product categories and cautioned that the results should not be viewed as representative of the platforms’ entire catalogues. The regulator did not identify the seven companies involved, citing ongoing investigations.
Electrical appliances were among the most problematic categories. The DGCCRF said every electrical device tested, including hair-care products, failed compliance checks, with nearly three-quarters considered dangerous because of risks such as electric shock or fire. Children’s products, jewellery and clothing also showed widespread violations, including choking hazards and excessive levels of harmful chemicals.
The findings add momentum to France’s broader campaign against discount e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu, which European retailers argue benefit unfairly from customs exemptions on low-value parcels shipped directly from factories in China.
France said it will share the results with the European Commission, which has enforcement powers under the Digital Services Act and can impose fines of up to 6% of a platform’s global turnover. The Commission has already opened investigations into Shein, Temu, and AliExpress over compliance with EU online platform rules.(Reuters)
French officials suggested the scale of the findings indicates systemic issues rather than isolated failures. One official said during a press briefing that when non-compliance rates reach 70% to 75%, the issue can no longer be treated as exceptional but reflects broader structural problems.
The announcement comes as France continues to press for tougher oversight of foreign online marketplaces amid growing concern over consumer safety, regulatory compliance and competitive distortions in the European retail market.
