Dangerous products sold on Temu: in a press release published on Monday 3 February, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), an association that brings together many NGOs defending individuals, is asking the European Commission to target Temu more closely. The e-commerce platform, which offers high-tech and ready-to-wear products, has been the subject of an investigation by Brussels since October 2024.
As Brussels is due to present its roadmap on Wednesday 5 February to address the "challenges linked to e-commerce platforms", the organisation is sounding the alarm. It wants action to be taken against the Chinese company, and expects the European executive to produce an "large-scale and ambitious action plan on e-commerce".
Power supplies likely to cause electrocution
Several of its members have tested products ordered from Temu in Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom, including cosmetics, electrical appliances and children's toys. Of the 200 products tested, the majority, according to the tests carried out, do not comply with current European legislation.
BEUC lists "small parts that are too easily detachable in children's toys and baby products, which can cause suffocation, missing or incorrect lists of ingredients in cosmetics, or extremely dangerous electric heaters".
While power supplies have been found to be likely to cause electrocution, wireless cameras and connected doorbells are sold without providing the information that would normally be mandatory, writes the group of associations.
Temu, "an entry point for illegal products" in Europe
For Agustín Reyna, director general of BEUC quoted in the press release, Temu "may have taken Europe by storm because it is cheap, but it is an entry point for illegal products illegal products that have no place in our markets”. Not only are dangerous products being sold, but European companies “that take the time to respect our laws are subject to unfair competition”.
Concretely, the organisation is asking the Commission to present next Wednesday “an ambitious and broad action plan on e-commerce that addresses the problems that consumers face in online markets”. It wants all e-commerce sites to comply with the DSA and European consumer law.
To do this, the office asks Europeto complete the ongoing reform of customs law, preventing dangerous goods from entering the European Union, in particular by providing more resources to customs authorities. Finally, it asks the executive to conclude its investigation opened last October against Temu, within the framework of the European regulation on digital services (DSA). Brussels wanted to ensure that "the products sold comply with EU standards and do not endanger consumers".
Temu states that, "aware of the observations made by the European Commission, our platform (...) is taking concrete measures to strengthen the quality and safety of the items on its site". The company adds that it "works closely with European and French authorities to ensure compliance with the laws in force, including in France. It remains fully committed to working with regulators to review and adjust its practices when necessary".
This BEUC communication adds to the many calls for more regulation of Chinese e-commerce platforms in Europe: in addition to associations that filed complaints against Temu last year, EU countries including France are also demanding that "manufacturers and e-commerce platforms – including those in third countries – comply with applicable European regulations", in particular to "ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the EU". A major reform of customs law is underway: it could end the exemption enjoyed by AliExpress, Temu or Shein, an exemption that allows them to avoid customs duties in Europe.
Editor's note: this article was amended on Thursday 13 February 2025 to include Temu's reaction, a penultimate paragraph has been added compared to the initial version.
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