Singapore-based online retailer Shein is not to be subject to a ban in France during a probe into the sale of illegal items, France’s government announced on Friday.“The government has succeeded in getting Shein to remove all illegal products that were being sold on its platform,” Paris said in a statement.The French government said that the firm remained “under close observation by state authorities.”It stressed that legal proceedings initiated against the company are to continue.The government’s assessment found that no illegal products such as child pornography, stabbing weapons or certain medicines were being sold on the platform.The company was founded in Nanjing, China, in 2008 and moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2022.
Shein sparks outrage over ‘childlike’ sex doll
The platform caused an uproar in France after it was found to have been advertising “childlike” sex dolls. In response, Shein said it had sanctioned the seller and banned the sale of sex dolls on its platform, while also temporarily suspending all third-party listings.France had also called upon the European Union to sanction the retailer over the listing of the dolls.On Wednesday, France’s government took steps to ban Shein unless it complies with existing regulations.On the same day, Shein opened its first permanent brick-and-morter shop in Paris’ iconic BHV Marais department store, which was met with a petition against the opening that garnered over 120,000 signatures.In a separate probe, the European Union and national consumer authorities are investigating the firm’s marketing practices, which they allege are in breach of EU consumer law.Shein has also received criticism from environmental groups over its reliance on fast-fashion.
