French authorities have imposed more than €22 million ($25.5 million) in new fines on global fast-fashion retailer Shein over alleged breaches involving product traceability, environmental labelling and consumer protection requirements.
The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, bring the total fines imposed by France against the Asian-founded fashion giant to more than €210 million, reflecting growing regulatory scrutiny of the company’s operations in the country.
The penalties were issued by France’s consumer protection watchdog, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), following an investigation into several e-commerce platforms operating primarily outside Europe.
According to the agency, the first fine of €5.77 million was imposed on Infinite Style Ecommerce Co. Ltd. (ISEL), the entity responsible for handling sales for Shein.
The DGCCRF accused the company of failing to comply with regulations that grant consumers a 14-day cooling-off period to reconsider certain purchases and return products free of charge.
French regulators also alleged that the company failed to provide mandatory traceability information on some products, including details about where clothing items were woven, dyed and manufactured.
In addition, authorities said Shein did not adequately disclose the presence of microplastics in fabrics sold on its platform.
Microplastics, which are commonly associated with synthetic materials such as polyester, are released into waterways during washing and have become a growing environmental concern due to their impact on ecosystems and marine life.
A second fine of €16.73 million was imposed on Shein subsidiary Infinite Styles Services Limited (ISSL) for alleged violations of consumer protection laws.
Reacting to the sanctions, Shein rejected the findings and confirmed that it would challenge both penalties.
“We dispute these findings and consider the fines manifestly disproportionate,” the Singapore-based company said in a statement.
“There has never been any doubt about the fairness of transactions on our platform, or the quality and safety of the products and services offered,” the company added.
Shein also argued that regulators had not identified any evidence of direct consumer harm arising from the alleged violations.
“We are not even aware of a single customer complaint relating to these issues,” the company stated.
The latest penalties add to a series of controversies surrounding Shein’s operations in France and other international markets.
Consumer advocacy groups, environmental organisations and political leaders have frequently criticised the company over concerns relating to environmental sustainability, alleged unfair competition practices, product compliance standards and working conditions within parts of its supply chain.
The company has also faced scrutiny over the environmental impact of fast fashion, with critics arguing that the rapid production and disposal cycle associated with low-cost clothing contributes significantly to waste and pollution.
Last year, Shein came under additional pressure in France after reports emerged that childlike sex dolls were available for sale on its online marketplace.
The discovery triggered public outrage and intensified calls for tighter oversight of products sold through the platform.
In response, Shein said it immediately removed the products from its marketplace section, which hosts goods from third-party sellers, and implemented a global ban on sex dolls across its platform.
The latest enforcement action underscores France’s increasingly aggressive approach to regulating major international e-commerce companies, particularly those operating across borders and serving European consumers through online platforms.
As regulatory pressure continues to mount, industry observers expect greater scrutiny of product transparency, environmental disclosures and consumer rights compliance across the fast-fashion sector.
